EDITORIAL - When the walls hold and the roof doesn't leak

"There are no more cracks. These cracks are now sealed and cemented." With these words, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen, Hermogenes Esperon Jr. tried to put to rest a nation's anxieties about continued threats of a coup involving certain factions of the military.

The immediate public reaction to such a statement, however, is a quizzical look on the face. Is Esperon just wisecracking? And if he is, is it not time that mouths and not just cracks should be sealed and cemented as well?

Esperon should know that it is not just actual restiveness in the military that is causing all these coup jitters. Irresponsible statements by military officers also lend a great deal to the overall anxiety felt by the nation.

The Army general may have thought that his statement carried with it the balm of truth that would soothe frayed nerves. But they do not. Even he knows that. You cannot put closure to military restiveness on the mere quotability of your words.

"There are no more cracks. These cracks are now sealed and cemented." Wow, such words are more believable as a commercial for Vulcaseal than as a statement of condition of military professionalism.

To be sure, most Filipinos would like to believe Esperon. What law-abiding, peace-loving Filipino would relish believing otherwise? But the sad fact is that words need more than just a nice ring to them to gain credibility.

Perhaps, for the time being, the cracks have indeed been sealed and cemented. But have they been sealed and cemented out of a genuine realization by some misguided elements in the military of their dangerous folly?

Have the cracks been sealed and cemented out of an honest belief that pursuing military adventurism in politics can only lead to a steady weakening of institutions and that no genuine and lasting solutions to our political problems can ever be achieved by taking shortcuts?

Unless Esperon and others can answer these questions positively and convincingly, they should not titillate the public with false hopes. If they really want to seal and cement the cracks, they should do it silently. We will know when the walls hold and the roof doesn't leak.