2/05/2010

Absolution In Public?


Archbishop says Lacson's flight justifiable

By Roy Lagarde
CBCP News

MANILA, February 5, 2010—The authorities will surely disagree but for a Catholic bishop, Senator Panfilo Lacson’s decision to leave the country is ‘justifiable’.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz on Friday admitted he knew that Lacson was fleeing not due to his double murder charges but to avoid being a victim of evil conspiracy.

“I knew Lacson was leaving. We met two or three days before he left (the country) but I don’t know where he was going,” said Cruz.

But the prelate believes the senator has nothing to do with the twin killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Cruz said Lacson left the country because the Arroyo administration has not stopped harassing him.

“He is not a coward. He just does not stand a chance, and would have difficulty in getting a just trial,” the archbishop said.

“I was listening to him. His decision to leave the country is justifiable,” he added.

Initial reports said Lacson flew to Hong Kong on Jan. 5, and then went to Australia.

The filing of double murder charges against Lacson, authorities said is the result of an investigation wherein he was given ample time to answer the allegations against him.

Government authorities also called on the senator to return to the country to face charges against him.

Cruz said he had already lost communication with Lacson ever since the latter flee. “He would only contact me when there is a major issue,” he said.

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“He is not a coward. He just does not stand a chance, and would have difficulty in getting a just trial.”

Isn't that statement no different than Senator Manuel Villar's excuse? It seems this lame cowardly excuse has started to become a standard among high profile probable cases in our country especially now that a man of the cloth seem to support it.

If Archbishop Oscar Cruz believes that his friend is truly innocent, then he should have tried harder to compel the Senator to fight his battle by facing the "false" accusation in the proper forum instead of seemingly showing support for the wrong move the senator is making.

"Sa mata ng mga bata, ang isang pagkakamali ay nagiging tama kapag ito ay ginagawa ng mga mas nakatatanda." So goes one television infomercial some time ago.

If we want to help restore the credibility of our nation's institutions, excuses like those made by Seneators Manny Villar and Panfilo Lacson (and especially if the move is publicly acknowledged by people of high moral authority) only add more insult to the already badly injured and ruined institutions of our land.

If a person accused is truly innocent of the charges, facing the charges even if it may be unfairly conducted is in itself already a great victory before the eyes of God -- this is how the Lord was treated while on earth, and who can fathom the wisdom behind such an act of submission to the authorities of an unfair worldly justice system?

As one dares to face an unfair trial (unfair if the accused is truly innocent and still get convicted), the person may experience undeserved suffering in the process, yet the ramifications of the action of a truly innocent sacrifice extends far beyond the realm of the present moment, for such an act is like those seeds that heroes plant. Though it takes some considerable length of time, yet there is hope of a new tree to grow than if there's no seed planted at all (or worse, bad seeds are planted).

People of authority, what kind of seeds are you planting?

On the other hand, submission to a fair trial (fair in the sense that the accused is truly guilty) is an act of admission to one's wrongdoing, and is in itself one's victory over his/her inner weakness - the fear of a just punishment. When the guilty submits himself to fair trial and eventually is justly accorded the right punishment, the nation's justice institution is strengthened and slowly regains back some credibility.

If Senator Lacson believes and still has respect for the institution that molded his class of discipline, he knows that overcoming his inner weakness and fear is the wisest thing for him
to do. If he wins his inner battle and finally submits to the nation's [in]justice system, his act of submission will in effect judge and condemn before the justice of heaven the culture of impunity that is prevailing in high places of our society. (Read Luke 11:32 and take a glimpse of the justice of the Lord)

2/03/2010

Same Old Rotten Politics! What Change Can The Nation Expect?


Villar allies no-show in Senate, stall vote on ethics rap

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net

Allies of Senator Manny Villar were a no-show on Wednesday when the Senate resumed its session to discuss and probably vote on the ethics committee complaint that was filed against him.

Only 11 senators showed up at the session hall, not enough to conduct business.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, who presided over the session, said the absence of the opposition group in the Senate was an "attempt" to prevent the disposition of the C-5 road project controversy.

"Some members opted not to attend the session to prevent the disposition of this matter," he further said.

Because of lack of quorum, Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri then moved for the adjournment of the session but was stopped by Senator Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal.

Madrigal is the complainant in the ethics case filed against Villar, who allegedly used his position to benefit from the road project.

Madrigal invoked the rules of the committee, which would allow the Senate leader to order the arrest of the absent senators.

But Enrile rejected Madrigal's motion, saying he will like to be compassionate to colleagues.

Zubiri moved for the adjournment of the session.

Congress will resume session on May 31.

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E kung hanggang ngayon ay ganito pa rin ang uri ng bolok na politka ang ginagawa ng ating mga lideres sa senado, e anong klaseng pagbabago ang ating maasahan mula sa kanila? Ke minoriya man o mayoriya man ng senado, pare-pareho nilang nilapastangan ang institosyon ng senado sa kanilang ipinakitang bolok na pamumulitika.

Ginawa nilang walang silbi ang senado na saan inaasahan pa naman ng taombayan na siyang maging halimbawa sa bayan kung papaano ang maging isang mabuting alagad ng bayan. Kahit pa sa kahuli-hulihan sanang sesyon nila, kinaya pa ng kaninalang mga konsensya na isakripisyong hindi maipasa ang ibang mga nakabinbin pang mga panukala dahil lang nakatuon ang isipan nila sa pamumulitika.

Naaalala ko noong panahong iniimbistiga nila ang mga samo't saring alegasyon ng kuropsyon at katiwalian ng kasalokoyang administrasyong ito. Wow! ang gagaling at ang sisipag nilang mag-imbistiga. Bawat araw ng paglilitis halos lahat present, walang gustong umabsent o mag boycot. Galit na galit pa nga sila noon sa E.O. 464 dahil "stone walling" daw. Sabi naman ng mga tauhan ng administrasyon na pamumulitika at paninira lang daw ang ginawa ng mga senador. "In aid of legislation" lang daw, sabi naman ng mga senador -- yan kung hindi sila ang iniimbistigahan. Sabi pa nga nila noon sa mga "respondents" at mga taong sangkot na hindi sumipot sa mga paglilitis na ang gawaing hindi pagdalo sa imbistigasyon ay isang palatandaan ng "guilt", at sabi pa nila na kailangan ipa aresto ang mga ito.

Peru ngayon na nagkataong sila naman mismo ang iniimbistigahan
sa kapwa nila ng alegasyon ng katiwalian, sabi "In aid of politics" lang daw ang lahat ng ito dahil may darating na eleksyon. Ke may eleksyon man na darating o wala, totoo man o hindi ang mga daan-daang ibidensyang dokomento, hindi ba ang alegasyon ay nararapat lamang na harapin upang maayos na maiimbistigahan at ng ang taombayan ay malaman ang katutuhanan at magkaroon ng wakas ang lahat ng ito upang tuloyan ng mailagay sa tahimik ang seryosong isyo na ito? Sa mga kinaukulan, diba maituturing na isang "double standard" ang kanilang hindi pagpapasailalim sa mga pagtatanong at paglilitis? Bakit? Hindi ba sila marunong lumulok sa sarili nilang gamot? Hindi ba dapat pantay-pantay na hustisya ang dapat ipaiiral dito ke senador ka man o ordinaryong akusado ka lamang? Kaya marami sa mga kaso ng korapsyon at katiwalian sa ating bansa ang hindi nalulutas at hindi malulutas, ay dahil pare-pareho lang lahat ang nangyayari sa mga imbistigasyon diyan sa senado. Puro lang walang kinahinatnan ang mga imbistigasyong ginawa nila at walang ibang totoong makabolohang naidulot kundi ang pagkaantala lamang sa mga mas mahalagang panukalang matagal ng nakabinbin. Bukod sa eskandalo at abala, malaki pang aksaya sa panahon at pera ng bayan ang dagdag pang naidulot ng ating mga senador.

Sa lahat na mga walang kaboluhang pamumulitikang nakasanayan na ng ating mga senador , e ano pa kayang uri ng pagbabago ang maasahan na mangyayari sa ating bansa kahit pa pagkatapos nitong darating na eleksyon?

Ang ugali ng nakararami sa ating mga lideres at mga politiko na handang isakripisyo ang kanilang prinsipyo para sa kanilang pansariling kapakanan, ay bunga ng kanilang bolok na tradisyonal na pamumulitika na kung hindi magbabago sa bawat isa ng ating mga ihahalal na mga lideres ay ang itong magiging dahilan pa rin ng pagpapatuloy ng korupsyon at katiwalian sa ating bansa.

Totoo at tunay na pagbabago sa sarili. Ito ay ang hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin natin makikita sa ating mga sarili.

Uulitin ko ang sinabi ko sa aking nakaraang mensahe:

"While maintaining a good character is especially necessary when in public service, it is foolish to underestimate one's own dark side. Leaders don't fail because of the enormities of the frontiers without; they fail because they lost the battle within. The inner battle is a never ending struggle and must be overcome every time in order to achieve significance and effect positive change on the challenges outside."

Sa kasalukoyang nangyayari sa senado, lumalabas ang "dark side" ng ating mga senador. Baka hindi lang nila siguro na-realize kung gaano pala talaga kamakapangyarihan ang madilim na bahagi ng kanilang (o sa bawat tao) pangloob na katauhan, at ito baka ang dahilan na
ina-underestimate lamang nila ang kakayahan nilang maging hindi mabuting halimbawa sa bayan minsan.

Everyone has a dark side within. Even priests and pastors, or wise kings and good rulers, all have their own individual inner weakness which can not be underestimated. Remember David the giant-slayer who's known to have a heart after the Lord's own heart?
When he ruled as king, his strength that killed giants was no match against his inner weakness when a time came where it was put to a test which started with a beautiful woman named Batsheeba and ended up in a situation where David found himself secretly masterminding the death in the battlefield of his trusted general who was the husband of Batsheeba in a desperate attempt to cover up and legitimize his adulterous affair with Batsheeba. His inner strength failed aginst his inner weakness because he underestimated his dark side. This is why Proverbs 4:23 admonishes everyone to "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it flow the issues of life."

Ito ang uri ng pagbabago sa sarili na hindi pa rin natin makikita sa ating mga sari-sarili lalo na sa karamihan sa mga lider (at sa nais maging lider) ng ating bansa. Katulad na lang nitong nakikita nating kasalukoyang nangyayari sa ating
senado na tuloyang winasak nila ang kredibilidad nito at ginawang iwan nilang halos wala ng silbi. Sa ginawa nilang ito, sa araw pa naman ng kahuli-hulihang sesyon ng senado, di malayong maaalala sila ng taombayan na parang mga "suicide bombers" at "institution killers" dahil winawasak nila ang sarili nila na isa pa naman sa mga napaka-importante at napakahalagang haliging institosyon ng ating bansa. At ang lahat ng ito ay dahil isinakrispisyo nila ang kanilang mga prinsipyo alang-alang sa mga pansariling kapakanang natatamasa nila mula sa pagiging tapat sa matagal ng nakasanayang bolok na politika.

"You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest." - Robert Brault