A necessary reset

In a matter of three-plus weeks, Filipinos will be observing the first anniversary of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s “Mahiya naman kayo” exposé gone wrong and gone wild.

His call for shame may soon be re-written by the public as “Mahiya ka naman sa sarili mo,” for allowing relatives and partymates to “use” him and threaten him and run circles around him.

Just like the ceremonial round robin warm up in basketball games, the ball will once again end up in the hands of PBBM, who only scored on “practice games” versus the DPWH and never dunked a single corrupt CongTractor in court or in jail.

Sorry but throwing the book at Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla hardly counts, since they were not part of the original cast of suspects. They were at most third party or usual suspects, unlike members of Congress who were directly involved in moving funds around.

How did we end up arresting third parties but not a single “proponent,” actual CongTractors, private contractors and congressional leaders who have yet to explain who got the money?

How on earth can the House of Representatives say they don’t fall under COA accountability for billions of pesos but are currently crucifying Vice President Sara Duterte for use of intelligence funds of a few million pesos?

How can the Lower House and Upper House of Congress take unto itself the powers of the executive and the judiciary through mere declaration or memo? Do we still have a Constitution, or has it given up the ghost as well?

Unless something MONUMENTAL unexpectedly happens in the next three weeks, like the alleged presidential intent to have a kamag-anak arrested for corruption, bets are on that PBBM will be accused of not having the political backbone to finish what he started.

The way the whole year of allegations, accusations, investigations “daw” and political “agawan base” went on, many Filipinos were bewildered and confused why the President did not exercise the force and functions of the executive department.

Was there really intent to prosecute the people who robbed us Filipinos of billions of pesos or was it a careful dance with a group of scorpions and snakes who threatened not to talk about the PBBM administration, not to go silently or be thrown under the bus.

Be that as it may, Pinoys are now recovering from the vertigo caused by fake news and trolls and are beginning to realize that catching the thieves is far more important than swearing allegiance to their colors. If we fail to get them, we will never restore our collective reputation with the world.

I believe that Filipinos are patient and forgiving. But it is with that belief that I titled today’s column “A necessary reset,” meaning investigating the crime of the century the same way any crime is investigated by law enforcers, not law makers.

If the President has a kamag-anak arrested before the SONA, he will partially restore public trust. After that he can let loose the best investigators from the PNP, justice department, even media.

After a thorough investigation, findings can then be turned over to proper judicial authorities, then filed by the ombudsman or even the Philippine Bar, to be tried in court and judged based on Philippine laws.

Because it is a reset, PBBM has to clear the deck in terms of political appointees and allies of suspects from law enforcement agencies and investigation arms of the NBI, PNP, etc.

The President would be well advised to choose and appoint real cops with real integrity and skills as investigators. No more commissions that end up decommissioning themselves with resignations.

Congressmen and senators are not criminal investigators and, given the overwhelming suspicion that some or many of them are suspected of involvement, the law and not just delicadeza states that “suspects” should not be allowed to be judge nor jury.

Regardless of political alliance, they meddled, interfered and effectively “contaminated” or polluted the crime. The fact that they televised the proceedings, complete with grandstanding, influenced public opinion that divided Filipinos who are all victims.

Life rarely gives repeats and second chances, let us be united in praying that the President does what is good for the country and not family or party. That would be the greatest  Marcos legacy.

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Dear Sir Cito,

I have read your column and am appalled at the number of patients who are at the ICU suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.

The main treatment for smoke inhalation must be IMMEDIATE referral and treatment using Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy, which we have in the Philippines.

I am surprised as to why these patients have not been referred at all. Saint Luke’s Medical, Capitol Medical Center, Chinese General Hospital has Monoplace chambers for individual patients, we have Multiplace Chambers at Asian Hyperbaric Healthcare that can accommodate at most 11-14 patients at any given time.

I cannot understand why their attending physicians have not referred the patients given the SEVERE consequences of delayed treatment using Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy which is the most effective way of healing these kinds of mass casualty events.

Thank you for writing about this. We will continue to pray for their healing.

Jose R. Bernardo, MD Medical director, Asian Hyperbaric Healthcare, Inc.

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