Cleansing the Source of Philippine Political Wisdom.

Every time one tries to read online news from the Philippines, one needs to take extra caution.

Like detonating some Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs, reading these headlines would surely earn you with a sudden smacked on the face, jarring your brain and sending stars swirling around you. And as you try to get yourself on an even keel from this violent assault on your senses, something repulsive would surely waft across you, filling your olfactory receptors with pungent, ordure-filled smell as if a herd of farm animals have just relieved themselves all at the same time and right in front of you! There is no escaping from this deathly feeling of the moment.

Once more, I have this foul smelling, near-death experience yesterday when I read the online headline news from the Philippines. It was not the current news from back home but it was the headline from many days ago. It was about the executive pardon given to these soldiers who were found guilty and convicted for their involvement in the death of Ninoy Aquino. I have not yet truly gone over the reasons or the utter lack of it why these convicted were pardoned, when scrolling down further on for some news, I chanced upon the picture of the Philippine Secretary of Justice, Raul Gonzalez, looking over some papers.

The news said something to the effect that this minister of selective justice was ranting again about the need for the speedy application of law with regards to the still unresolved death of Buddy Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Orbito. Not that Raul looks physically and mentally incapable of doing his job any longer( as if it matters in the order of things back home) or that the death of Buddy Dacer and his driver are undeserving of speedy resolution under the law, but I simply find this item relating to the resurgence of Raul in the news as another hypocrisy , another oft repeated moro-moro designed to gain political space for some sleazy creatures residing by that murky portion of Pasig River. For how can we believe this so called Secretary of Justice,crowing again about adherence to a virtue of law, when so many of our people are still clueless as to the whereabouts of their sons, daughters, siblings, mothers or fathers, who have been missing since this top man of the law took office? Leveling the playing field? How? For whom? For still unknown reasons, water simply came gushing out of my nose as I could hardly puke anymore.

Then, bombshell after bombshell exploded before me, emitting toxic fumes in my mind, wiping out all that is rational in me. For there before me is another online banner story! It was about GMA having appointed Deputy Executive Secretary, Manuel Gaite, as the new SEC Commissioner , vice the beleaguered Commissioner Jesus Martinez, who was forced to resign upon finding himself deeply mired by another nationally raging anomaly arising from the Legacy fiasco. Isn't this the same Manuel Gaite, who tried to prevent Rodolfo lozada from testifying before the Senate inquiry on alleged bribery in connection with the National Broadband Network deal with a Chinese firm? And if I understand it right, SEC is the premier public office that regulates the operation of corporations, statutory beings, which by legal fiction, are endowed with dual personalities.

So?

Quidado, companeros! A corporation has a personality distinct and separate from its stakeholders and officers. For that matter and more importantly, a corporation may commit illegal acts without its officers and stakeholders incurring any public accountability but for their contribution to the corporation. Thus, when it comes to SEC's probity in the enforcement of public accountability of corporations, both national and foreign, the public's faith on the commission's role , headed by Manuel Gaite, as the defender of public interest would seem compromised. The reason is simple, Manuel Gaite is publicly perceived as a spineless but loyal minion of certain abhorred residents of Pasig River, whose current legacy for upholding public good over personal interest is dismally scandalous at its best. Indeed, one should not expect a maggot to coo like a dove.

Is SEC , a reward for a pursuivant's loyal performance in the sore infested ZTE affair and Rodolfo Lozada case? Are we not supposed to believe that public office is an office of public trust? Or is public office as a public trust is but a vistege of our national past?

And as if this mental violence and continuing battery of our sense of decency is not enough, another shocker materialized before me and in bold letters,from the PDI online news for March 18,2009 - Jalosjos free; nothing new ‘He’s been out a long time ago. Romeo Jalosjos, the Philippine poster boy for rape and pedophilia, is free again! Walang tigil talaga ang Biernes Santo sa Pilipinas. WHY ARE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING TO US? I would not venture anymore explanation. I could only say that the time has simply come for our people to cleanse the wellspring of our national political wisdom.

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