The CBCP statement

"Unless the process is guided by no other motive than genuine concern for the common good, impeachment will again serve as an unproductive political exercise dismaying citizens as well as reinforcing their negative perception of politicians as a whole".

Thus goes the statement of the CBCP on the issue of impeachment. Well and good. Any politically motivated initiative such as the impeachment complaints orchestrated by the opposition will just be a useless exercise.

Since impeachment is a political process action by Congress would be dictated by political convictions, and since majority of the lawmakers are lined up with the Administration, it is doubtful if the complaints can reach first base.

If the truth is what the opposition is in search for, the truth of whether or not PGMA cheated in the 2004 elections, they should use non-political approaches. One such approach would be something like a "truth commission" composed of apolitical persons.

But can a group of completely neutral people be constituted? Who will initiate its formation? Who will finance its activities? What legal habiliment will its findings acquire? Will the sessions of the commission not morph into another arena of political skirmish?

The fact is, trying to get to the bottom of the 2004 elections will always be a tug-of-war between political alignments, no matter what mechanism is used. This matter should have been the concern of the Supreme Court, if only GMA's gadflies had elevated their protest to that body within the regulation period. But this is already water under the bridge.

I'm sure those on the other side are fully aware of the futility of their cause. But they have to keep on kicking up the dust, otherwise, who will notice them? Remember, the 2007 elections is less than a year away. If they have to keep quiet now how will they get media coverage?

Genuine concern for the common good is what the bishops want from those who initiate impeachment. Unfortunately, genuine concern and the conscience of the opposition are miles apart. If it is not, how come they tried and are trying to link up with the communist rebels? One of their kind, a senator, just came back from fraternal talks abroad with NDF honchos, the very same people who are calling the shots in the terroristic escapades of their marauding bands in the countryside.

If the opposition champions are genuinely concerned of the people's bread and butter, how come they have not stopped rocking our economic vessel with their destabilization craze? Thanks to their disturbances, foreign investors are fleeing the country and local entrepreneurs are getting timid. Productivity is low while the cost of living is high. Jobs are getting scarce and the begging bowls are proliferating. Is this how they show their concern for the people's welfare?

The bishops mention too the people's probable dismay arising from an impeachment moro-moro. They say that the effect of this world be a negative backlash towards politicians in general.

It would be a backlash towards the administration congressmen who would then have their hands full trying to stifle the sound and fury against their Queen of Hearts. It would be a backlash too towards the feisty opposition lawmakers whose craving for power and influence is easily discernible in their oratory and body language. The phenomenon would surely be a carnival of accusations and counter-accusations - words, words, words, - while the entire country idly watches and waits, amused perhaps, but angry deep inside.

Politicians! The very word sounds like the rush of ill winds in the minds of many Filipinos. Surely, many don't like politicians but whether we like it or not, politicians are here to stay for such is - the nature of democracy. Democracy without politicians? It would not be democracy at all but something else.

Without politicians, what kind of social order will we have? A social order sans order.

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