Everybody now returns to their usual lives after witnessing the drama of the 3 Filipinos executed in China for drug traficking. As I write this, an episode in Jessica Soho features the lives of these 3 victims. I call them victims because that is what they are. I think nobody among those 3 willingly traficked the drug just for the sake of it or knowing fully well the consequence. A common opinion is that poverty and unemployment pushed them. But that is another topic worth a separate discussion.
The Jessica Soho episode just finished and admittedly, most of us have had enough of its commentary. I don't see the need to go over and over of this tragedy. It may be better to reflect on the future and the implication this incident brought.
For me, it's how the Chinese government acted. Up to the last minute, they stuck to their stand to execute the Filipinos, despite the pleadings of the Philippine government for a clemency. The Noynoy government, I think, took a big diplomatic risk in appealing for a clemency for the victims. But under the guise of law, it fell on deaf ears. Sure, the execution was delayed. But only because a high official, the Vice President himself went to appeal. But technically , nothing changed in the decision.
Sure, they are just following their laws. But it made me wonder, if it happened to an American citizen, hypothetically, will the Chinese follow the same course? The fact is, the Philippines is such a miniature country for them compromise their laws. They can afford to take such a stand.
Even US officials feel that the Chinese action smacked on international diplomacy, considering the risk that the Philippine government took. But of course, the US will not take sides, considering they have their own diplomatic ties with China to manage.
All the lip service that the Chinese are saying about our country, that diplomatic ties will not be affected, redounds to how the Chinese really sees us on how they treated these 3 Filipinos. It's not because these 3 are guiltless with what they did. But the government had made an appeal for clemency, a big risk, and yet nothing has been done to consider it.
It's time Filipinos open their eyes, including Philippine officials themselves, on how other countries treat us. China a friend? Let's think again.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Quest to Clean up Government
Noynoy Aquino ran for President on the platform of anti-corruption. This is why I believe people voted for him. I for one voted for him because of this belief, the hope that this vision will come to see the light.
Many days have passed after he won. A lot of events have occurred. Many opinions were given on whether the Aquino Presidency is effective or not. But in the end, Noynoy will be judged under the banner in which he laid his campaign, the anti-corruption drive.
The anti-corruption mission in Philippine government is not an easy task. In fact, with how politics in this country is being run, it is close to impossible to attain. However, my belief is that the foundation is being laid out no less by the Noynoy government itself.
The exposure of corruption in the military and the police is one key element. Never in the history of the country that the armed forces been placed in this kind of scandal. I once thought that this expose weakens the defense of the country. Imagine if we have been attacked under these conditions. But it was a necessary risk in order to plant the seed of change and reform. This case should be pursued to its logical conclusion, no matter how many generals commits suicide because of guilt.
The impending Guttierez impeachment is another. No anti-corruption drive in government will succeed if the Ombudsman itself is corrupt. The Ombudsman's iniquities in this case is not what it committed, but in what it ommitted, in terms of urgency of action. I sure hope Guttierrez gets impeached. The evidence of the favors she granted the previous administration of Arroyo is enough to show her guilt. She has corrupted the office of the Ombudsman to the hilt.
Another potential element, in which the handwriting is already seen on the wall, is the possible guilt of Chief Justice Renato Corona over the Visconde case. That, as reported and attested by Lauro Visconde himself, Corona allegedly told the former, that some justices are campaigning for the release of Hubert Webb, a fact that has already occurred months ago. The veracity of such an incident may lead again to an impeachment case for Corona, a possibilty that may clean up and unite the Supreme Court.
That Guttierrez and Corona are being targeted by the Aquino government because they are appointees of the GMA government is not the issue here. The issue is that, for the anti-corruption drive to succeed, all elements against it in key government offices must be removed. It is never personal on the people involved. For once, they should stop thinking about themselves and think of the country.
I agree with this plan. And so will majority of the Filipino population who are sick and tired of corruption in the country. The country needs a major change in culture, in politics, and in government. All those who will not help should step back, stand aside and disappear.
Many days have passed after he won. A lot of events have occurred. Many opinions were given on whether the Aquino Presidency is effective or not. But in the end, Noynoy will be judged under the banner in which he laid his campaign, the anti-corruption drive.
The anti-corruption mission in Philippine government is not an easy task. In fact, with how politics in this country is being run, it is close to impossible to attain. However, my belief is that the foundation is being laid out no less by the Noynoy government itself.
The exposure of corruption in the military and the police is one key element. Never in the history of the country that the armed forces been placed in this kind of scandal. I once thought that this expose weakens the defense of the country. Imagine if we have been attacked under these conditions. But it was a necessary risk in order to plant the seed of change and reform. This case should be pursued to its logical conclusion, no matter how many generals commits suicide because of guilt.
The impending Guttierez impeachment is another. No anti-corruption drive in government will succeed if the Ombudsman itself is corrupt. The Ombudsman's iniquities in this case is not what it committed, but in what it ommitted, in terms of urgency of action. I sure hope Guttierrez gets impeached. The evidence of the favors she granted the previous administration of Arroyo is enough to show her guilt. She has corrupted the office of the Ombudsman to the hilt.
Another potential element, in which the handwriting is already seen on the wall, is the possible guilt of Chief Justice Renato Corona over the Visconde case. That, as reported and attested by Lauro Visconde himself, Corona allegedly told the former, that some justices are campaigning for the release of Hubert Webb, a fact that has already occurred months ago. The veracity of such an incident may lead again to an impeachment case for Corona, a possibilty that may clean up and unite the Supreme Court.
That Guttierrez and Corona are being targeted by the Aquino government because they are appointees of the GMA government is not the issue here. The issue is that, for the anti-corruption drive to succeed, all elements against it in key government offices must be removed. It is never personal on the people involved. For once, they should stop thinking about themselves and think of the country.
I agree with this plan. And so will majority of the Filipino population who are sick and tired of corruption in the country. The country needs a major change in culture, in politics, and in government. All those who will not help should step back, stand aside and disappear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)