January 14, 2025
The Judiciary branch of the Philippines had finally adopted the Jury System in settling cases brought to trial. In the local version of the jury, there would only be six jurors, likely because of financial constraints. The first case tried under this new system was the controversial case of People v. De La Cruz. Dela Cruz was an alleged drug addict who was accused of the murder of a policeman whom he shot during a drug raid.
The trial was now over, and the six jurors sequestered themselves in the jury room to come up with a unanimous verdict. The jurors (known by their pseudonyms) include: retired politician Mayor Rico (Mark Aranal), religious CWL matron Marian (Emlyn Olfindo-Santos), school teacher Katniss (Althea Aruta), student leader Lean (Aaron Dioquino), Gen Z princess Solara (Pauline Arejola), and the foreman, paralegal Orion (JP Basco).
This 1-hour long one act play is the second project of Eldrin Veloso as writer-director, after his original musical "Pilato" last year. He has now come up with the idea of showing the challenges to implement the jury system locally given the typical mindset, personality and social mores of Filipinos. This hard-hitting, thought-provoking play is for mature audiences who can discern and analyze if a jury can ever work in the Philippine justice system or not.
During the Q&A, Veloso revealed that he based the personalities of the six jurors on the Six Thinking Hats of Dr. Edward de Bono. Each juror represented a certain style of thinking, although some were better applied than others. Mayor Rico's barong is black (Judgement). Marian's scarf is yellow (Positivity). Katniss's blouse is white (Facts), Lean's bandanna is green (Creativity), Solara's jacket is red (Feelings), and Orion's shirt is blue (Analysis).
As can be expected, tensions in that jury room escalated quickly, especially when their initial vote turned out to be a dead heat at 3-all. The more vocal members of the jury tried to convince the dissenters to switch over to their side, so that they can all go home already. As a guilty verdict may lead to the death penalty for dela Cruz, there was intense pressure from the crowds and reporters rallying outside the courthouse awaiting the historic decision.
Aranal's arrogant domineering Mayor Rico collided with Dioquino's rough argumentative Lean (name from the assassinated activist). Olfindo-Santos's Marian invoked divine intercession, but the pressure soon ruffled her feathers too. Arejola's youthful Solara grumbled about her Instagram at first, only to realize that the stakes were much higher. The persistence of Aruta's steadfast Katniss would cause Basco's calm Orion to explode eventually. Rain de Jesus's mousy Marshall and her sandwiches provided comic relief amidst the stressful anxiety.
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Deliberations were going nowhere near resolution, until a piece of evidence was reviewed. This evidence was so clear-cut that it begged the question why jurors were not impressed by it when it was presented during the trial proper. They said they wanted to see it again, but it was as if they were seeing it for the first time, and that did not seem logical. Veloso and crew may have to give this crucial climax some more careful reconsideration. Could the execution of this evidence be altered to make it less incontrovertible, or should it even exist at all?
This was just a press preview that I watched, the first time the play was performed in public. I trust that there is still ample time to make adjustments in that final segment in order to make a more powerful impact at the ending, in time for opening night on January 16.
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PEOPLE V DELA CRUZ runs at the Corner Studio (4/F J&T Bldg, Magsaysay Ave, Sta Mesa, Manila), from January 16 - 24, 2026 for only 6 shows. Showtimes are at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with 3 pm matinees on Saturdays. Tickets at P800 each, seats at first come - first served basis.
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