Impunity vs. accountability

Nature isn’t letting up. After Typhoon Opong, a quake in Cebu followed. Now, as we are trying to monitor where Typhoon Quedan is heading to, a quake in Davao Oriental struck.  Though most of us are probably immune by now to typhoons because of their frequency and predictability, in tremors we aren’t.

Yes, the unpredictability of the occurrences of earthquakes and the uncertainty as to how many and how strong aftershocks shall be is so traumatic to a certain extent. For one, just as we thought that yesterday’s tremor was one of the thousands of aftershocks from the activity of the Bogo Bay Fault, we were shocked by the news that it was another one at magnitude 7.6 off the coast of Manay, Davao Oriental. Now, as we felt both tremors in Metro Cebu, will this mean that the number of aftershocks will certainly double in the next couple of days or weeks? Honestly, we do not know. Certainly though, the incoming monsoon rains and tropical depressions will compound the inconveniences and discomforts that we now currently endure.

Needless to say, some of our miseries should have been avoided had our contractors built our roads and bridges in accordance with the programs of work. As these are all substandard, some roads are not anymore passable and a number of bridges are entirely unusable. In fact, despite these calamities, we could have still freely leave our abode on time for work than wait for water to subside had the flood control and drainage projects been done religiously. Or, we could have eased the pain of some of our brethren (who are using tents as temporary shelter) had contractors consciously built LGUs’ gymnasiums as prescribed.

Indeed, all these morbid (the untimely deaths from collapsing gymnasiums) realities and discomforts are enough to persistently demand for accountability. The question now is, are those who are to do that will be able to do so in a country where the aura of impunity pervades?

So, what is impunity then? It is that perception of “freedom from punishment for any wrongdoing, or where there is a strong feeling from a perpetrator (whether individual or entity) that there will be no consequences, whatsoever, for such actions.” Simply put, getting away with murder is one of them.

Not long ago, that aura prevalently obtained. Undeniably, there were a lot of casualties in the war on drugs.  But where are the culprits? Most of them got off scot-free. The same was true with the so called “Pharmally case” at the height of the pandemic.

To recall, an inadequately capitalized Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. was involved in the alleged importation and sell of overpriced medical supplies to the government to contain the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Well, the Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee conducted an investigation and dug deeper into the core of it and uncovered several issues. These include, among others, the supply of face shields that were allegedly of substandard quality. Worse, as the transaction was in billions, the other question was, how were they able to close such deal with a meager paid-up capital.

Well, as the investigation went on and was moving into the direction of Michael Yang, then Pres. Duterte’s economic adviser, cabinet officials were barred from participating in the hearings. Thus, the case was never pursued and was left to froze. Clearly, therefore, impunity obtains when, first and foremost, our law enforcement and judicial system won’t work diligently as mandated. Secondly, when the “ako ang bahala sa iyo” mantra prevails, the perpetrators will become bolder.

Without a doubt, accountability is the real antidote to impunity. Today though, we have a glimmer of hope as the investigations of the anomalous infrastructure projects go on. Yes, at the very least, that aura of impunity is slowly diminishing. Yes, too slow for comfort as remnants of the previous regime remains and are trying to detour any investigation that will lead to those they swore to protect.

Yet, it is incumbent upon us to add fuel to the fire. Well, not in a bad or precarious way.  What we must do is never give the culprits and their cohorts the opportunity to simmer down that boiling desire of those clamoring for change. Those who are fighting impunity with the hope of achieving accountability.

Like nature, there must be no letting up.