If there was anything sorely lacking in the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) it was the issue on federalism, where many Filipinos, especially those living in the South, truly believe could usher in new political change in this country. But all of a sudden, we hear of this new development: a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to create an independent Bangsamoro state in Mindanao. Of course we would like to know what kind of animal is “hidden” in this MOA.
If the Arroyo administration is creating a separate Islamic state, then we’d like to know whether it is “Balkanizing” the Philippines or not? If it is a federal state that President Arroyo is creating… we would like to know why we in Cebu and in the rest of the country who are espousing a federal state, are not allowed to be federal.
That one-page ad by Zamboanga City entitled, “Yes to Peace, No to Zamboanga City’s Inclusion in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity” signed by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and many other signatories, tells us that this initiative was done without consultation with the areas affected by this MOA. This is why many people are questioning this MOA and we can only hope that the Supreme Court would put a stop to this fragmenting of the Philippines. As The Philippine STAR editorial last Monday pointed out clearly, why is there a big rush to sign this deal?
History taught us that Zamboangueños refused to be under Moro rule, hence they fought all the Moro invaders for centuries, and even adopted the Spanish language (it’s called Chabacano) and Christianity. If this deal pushes through, you can say that this administration sold out Zamboanga City and believe me, it won’t be the end of trouble in Mindanao. If they are not careful, it may rekindle old rivalries between Islam and Christianity.
* * *
Incidentally, this new controversy on the MOA with the MILF is happening just when the whole nation is rocked with another corruption scandal; this time it is an exposé by no less than Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. that a certain Francis de Borja, who says he is a friend of the Lopez family, tried to bribe him with P10 million on the GSIS-Meralco row. As we’ve all know, De Borja had a hunch that Justice Sabio would “squeal” on him, so he went on the offensive in the media (of course, he had an exclusive interview on ABS-CBN) to say that Justice Sabio asked for a P50-million bribe.
This latest allegation of corruption only validates what we’ve already heard through the grapevine that the judiciary is no different from any other government agency and is full of corrupt judges, justices and clerks of court. If he were alive today, my mentor Sir Max Soliven would have had a field day writing about those so-called “rogues in robes.” Indeed, 22 years after the Filipino people booted out the corrupt conjugal Marcos Dictatorship (where a then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court held an umbrella for the First Lady) this country has changed only for the worse!
In the past, we’ve heard a lot of juicy rumors about decisions made by lower court judges or justices of the Court of Appeals that didn’t seem to follow a legal pattern, like taking the line of previous Supreme Court decisions. That many judges or the CA can go either way in presenting some kind of legal wisdom to a corrupt decision gives us an idea of how morally bankrupt many judges and justices are. This brings many to ask, is justice in this country really for sale? What else can we say, but this is true!
When this scandal was publicized, everyone wanted to know who this Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. is. Taking the cue from Ateneo Professor Emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas S.J. who vouched for Justice Sabio’s integrity, I do not doubt this at all; he is a rarity in the CA. But he is dealing with the forces of darkness and the evil one has now tried to tarnish his image.
* * *
Two years ago, Cebuanos proudly hosted the ASEAN Leaders Summit and we did our best to put our best foot forward and made Metro Cebu so spotless and beautiful. About the only thing that marred that hosting was the infamous lamppost scam. It has been two years and it seems that this case has been put on the freezer by the Office of the Ombudsman. But even if that deal was aboveboard… I would still say that it was disadvantageous to the government because today, 95 percent of all the lampposts are totally out of commission. Last Sunday evening, I noticed that only a few posts are lighted. Yet no one has been tried for this scam. As usual, justice delayed Philippine-style and the crooks are out scot-free to make crooked deals again!
* * *
For e-mail responses to this article, write to vsbobita@mozcom.com. Bobit Avila’s columns can also be accessed through www.philstar.com. He also hosts a weekly talkshow, “Straight from the Sky,” shown every Monday, 8 p.m., only in Metro Cebu on Channel 15 of SkyCable.