As expected some people quickly alluded Cesar Mancao’s willingness to testify against Sen. Panfilo Lacson to a grand plan to discredit him. Politicians including Loren Legarda (who has dramatically plunged way down in her survey ratings as presidentiable) are quick to defend the beleaguered Lacson as soon as Mancao arrived from the US. We should not depart from the real issue- not political persecution but a quest for truth and justice for Dacer and Corbito who were summarily executed 9 years ago. Lacson has been in the defensive since Cesar Mancao gave his affidavit months ago. Granting that his allegation that Mancao was pressured into testifying against him is true- it does not, in anyway, diminish the truth in Mancao’s testimony. Apparently, it was Lacson who advised Mancao and Michael Ray Aquino to go to the US to avoid being implicated in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case in 2001. Too bad Teofilo Viña, another police officer who can shed light into the case, was killed in 2003. Another important character, Glenn Dumlao who turned state witness in 2001 also fled to the US. It will be a strong corroboration of Mancao’s testimony if it is true that he (Dumlao) is willing to testify anew after he is extradited. Those who are trying to muddle the issue by alluding to a plot to persecute Lacson are diverting the issue, thereby trampling upon the clamor for truth and justice by the Dacer and Corbito families. Justice for Dacer and Corbito!!!
The recent directive of President Obama to restore funding by the US Government for clinics that perform abortion all over the world was welcomed by the pro-choice advocates but drew a flak from pro-life advocates and the Vatican. In a rally held by both parties in San Francisco last week, a Filipina pro-choice advocate said in an interview that she is happy with the directive because it upholds the human rights of women. She even asserted that although she is a Catholic, she believes that her Church should not meddle with the affairs of the state. People who use the same argument would cite the separation of Church and state enshrined in the constitution whenever the Church upholds morality. They missed the point. Abortion is a moral issue on which the Church claims competence.
The Church (not only the Catholic Church) believes that life begins at the moment of conception. It is her moral obligation to advocate this reality based on divine law. Women who say that abortion is a right are misguided or are simply ego-driven. While it is true that they have right over their bodies, it is an absolute truth that no one can ever claim a right over the life of others (even the unborn).
I feel privileged to be in the United States on the day Barack Obama was elected as the first African-American president and on the day of his inauguration (both events will be cherished in history). I must admit that although I do not like Obama’s liberal ideology, I admire his eloquence in speech. This gave him greater advantage during the campaign period. However, speeches are only words. As he assumes the office as a President of the most powerful nation, Barack Obama should now begin to walk the talk. He must now take the first steps to fulfill his promises and perform the task of leading a nation that is currently in recession.
I was elated to hear the Rev. Rick Warren mentioning GOD and JESUS in his opening prayer during the inaugural ceremonies this morning. A commentator in one of the cable news networks was pessimistic on whether GOD or JESUS will be mentioned because the United States is a pluralistic country not only because of diversity in race but also because of diversity in religion (there is a deliberate move by the extreme left to remove GOD and JESUS in the picture). President Obama should not fall into the prodding of Godless individuals who even look forward towards removing the word GOD in the dollar bills. When GOD is removed in our lives, it will not be a change but a transgression. Obama’s battle cry was change, and change has indeed happened through his election. However, change itself can become a hindrance if it were made merely to discredit an opponent and not for altruistic purpose. Real Change can only be achieved if it is directed by GOD through JESUS. That kind of change will surely make a difference.
The controversy that stemmed from the resolution by DOJ prosecutors for the dismissal of the case against the so called “Alabang Boys“ opened a can of worms. DOJ secretary Gonzalez and the other officials involved are making a fool of us Filipinos by playing naïve about the gravity of the matter. For, how can one explain why the lawyer of the accused was the one who penned the release order for his clients? All Gonzalez could say was that it was unethical on the part of the lawyer. This made me believe that such thing was an ordinary occurrence in the DOJ (lawyers of the accused writing the decision or order release). It is a blatant usurpation of authority to use the letterhead of the DOJ, but he (Gonzalez) seemed to have tolerated it by not investigating the matter immediately. If it were not for the PDEA officials standing their ground, these things would not have been exposed.
At the congressional hearing yesterday, Gonzalez vented his ire on Major Marcelino (who has become an epitome of integrity in public service) instead of reprimanding the lawyer who used his letterhead. As Congressman Cuenco said, “ He should have reprimanded him, scolded him, raised hell and castigated him. I don’t know why he did not do that.” The DOJ has become DOI ( Department of Injustice) under Gonzalez. He, along with the other DOJ officials involved should resign!
The present congressional hearing on the matter should result into new legislations on drug enforcement- there should be a special court for drug cases. On the other hand, the PDEA personnel should take seminars on standard operations procedure in conducting arrests and buy-bust operations so that cases will not be dismissed merely on grounds of technicality.
While in the United States during the election period, I feel privileged to have witnessed their kind of Democracy at work (not necessarily at its best). There are things that I liked and I hope that those things will be applied in the Philippine Electoral system. But, there are things that I disliked too.
What I liked:
- The two party system: This ensures that there will be no turncoats or "balimbings". Politics of issues and not personalities is promoted.
- The speedy counting of votes: As soon as the polling stations have closed, the winner can be known. It is the very opposite of our electoral system in the Philippines wherein it takes more than a month to know the winners in national elections. Our electoral system should be automated as soon as possible.
-The statesmanship of the losing candidate: Hearing John McCain conceding defeat as soon as he was informed of the final count manifested his statesmanship. It made me wonder if defeated candidate (in a clean and honest election) in the Philippines can ever be capable of such gesture. Being an active PPC-RV volunteer during elections in the Philippines, I can say that almost all losing candidates claim that they were cheated.
What I disliked:
- Mudslinging: This is an aspect of Philippine politics that happens even in the United States (or did we learn it from them?). Both parties were guilty of this in their paid advertisements. It came really harsh when demolition jobs were done against VP Candidate Sarah Palin- particularly when false stories spread that her baby with special needs was the child of her daughter and that she had to cover up for her.
- Media Endorsement: In my humble opinion, this should be prohibited. For, how can the media remain objective if they endorse candidates?
