The key to traffic discipline is…

I have written it here long ago and I will repeat it again: Having a “No-Fault Zone” along the Banilad road or Gov. Cuenco Ave. is meaningless unless you have Citom enforcers for every 10 or 20 yards looking for motorists who violate traffic rules. The problem is that when motorists do not see enforcers, they will just violate all they can and then say what’s the point in having this so-called “No-Fault Zone” when it cannot be implemented? More important than having such an ill-conceived scheme is that, it doesn’t stop recidivists from violating traffic rules repeatedly.

The key to traffic discipline is not only arresting traffic violators but also trying to prevent them from committing the same crime over and over. For those who still don’t get it, violations of all our laws, including simple traffic violations are a crime against the state. The only difference is the severity of the penalty.

In a murder case, for instance,you could get a life sentence but in a traffic violation you just have to pay the fine. However, while we have laws against recidivism, this is not true to traffic violations. Hence I will always advocate for a “strike three you’re out” policy or a point system like in Europe where a motorist who runs out of points will have his license revoked. If we can do this, then we’ll see discipline in our streets.

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We went to the Waterfront Hotel last Wednesday noon for the 2007 SWS Business Survey on Corruption sponsored by the Social Weather Station, USAID, the Asia Foundation, the Dilaab Movement and the Cebu Business Club (CBC). Aside from Dr. Mahar Mangahas, Ms. Virginia Santiago acting Ombudsman in the Visayas attended this affair. But what can we really report? That corruption is still very much alive and kicking in this country and is still on the rise? That whatever gains we may have has been thwarted by the inefficiency of government or the Judiciary?

There was really nothing new in the latest SWS Surveys, except something that they learned about us Cebuanos, that many of us would exert extra effort to fight corruption. We saw this with the creation of the Mactan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) born out of the frustration of Mactan businessmen who are sick and tired of corruption in Lapu-Lapu City.

Our problem with corruption goes back to the businessmen themselves. There can’t be any corruption unless there is a corruptee! So if you want to stamp out corruption, stop using fixers (yes Virginia, they even have fixers for marriages) for government transactions. Are we the part of the problem or part of the solution?

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Armed Forces Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. apparently recommended holding peace talks with the CPP/NPA, talks that have been stalled because it did not yield any results. Of course CPP/NPA head Jose Maria Sison pounced on this opportunity by saying, “Remove the terror tag against the CPP/NPA and we’ll talk!” But will they really and seriously sit down and talk peace with the Philippine government? I doubt it!

While I fully agree that peace talks are always better than fighting, it must be said that peace talks must result in peace. How many peace talks have we called and ended at the wrong end of the bargain? Gen. Esperon knows too well that Joma used the peace talks to rearm and strengthen the NPA, because they start talking because they were on the defensive. Joma first wants the government to remove the “terror” tag before they talk but we’re getting nothing from the commies!

If the Communists want Peace let them lay down their arms first! This happened with the IRA in Ireland. The Basque Separatists did not lay down their arms but they unilaterally declared a non-aggression against Spain. What about us? What has the Philippine government gotten from talking with the CPP/NPA through all these years? Nothing! So why talk with them now? What is Joma offering that should make the Philippine government come to the negotiating table?

A few months back, I played golf with government negotiator Jesus Dureza and told him about my sentiments about holding peace talks with the Communists.I hope he still shares my view that our Peace Talks with Joma and his alalay Fr. Luis Jalandoni of the National Democratic Front (NDF) produced nothing but only strengthened the NPAs. So let it be said that those who seek peace should be the first to come and show us that they really want to have peace. But frankly speaking, I doubt if they really want peace.

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