Concerned Mandauehanons, to make a difference

For a change this column adopts the "Open Letter" penned by Eli. C. Perez, now residing in Columbia, Missouri for the "Global Mandauehanons" here and mostly abroad, which is herein printed en toto, except for their over a hundred names/signatures due to space limitation…

"An Open Letter to Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago"

"We watched with anguish while the city of our birth was being exploited by the same leaders who promised to lead us to excellence. We endured the ignominy of being labeled as the "Shabu Capital" of South East Asia and the most corrupt city of the nation. As the elections approached, we doubted whether change can ever happen to the city we love. Until…

"Like the cavalry who came just in time to save a losing battle, your office boldly suspended officials suspected of plundering the nation's coffers in the infamous lamp post fiasco. You collected strong evidence so that the courts refused to grant a restraining order. With one courageous stroke, your office instilled hope in a once despairing people crying out for change in governance. Expectations rose once more as we found our new protector, with enough courage to take the cudgels for the cause of honest government.

"Was all that but a dream? Did we delude ourselves into believing that indeed change can happen in our country? When you suspended the officials involved, we looked upon you as the champion we have long been waiting for, who will fight for justice and cleanse our beloved country of rogue public servants. The withdrawal of the anti-graft cases against the accused alarmed us but we kept our peace, trusting that you were doing it for the right reasons. As the months slowly passed without the re-filing of the cases as promised, we are getting concerned that somehow a compromise has been brokered and a plan to silently kill the cases is on the offing. We beseech that you set our minds at peace and let justice take its course without any further delay. Be our champion once more like you were before.

"We have become one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Our ship is sinking, yet, still the leaders who are supposed to guide us either don't get it or simply refuse to do anything. Many of us were forced to leave our country and loved ones because our leaders have chosen to enrich themselves rather than lead our country to the promised land. Are we, as Filipinos, happy with the state of our country and contented with this shameful existence? Our country will never rise from the quagmire unless people like (you) do what is right. We cannot keep on blaming our national leaders in Manila. Each one of us has to do what we can, in our sphere of influence, to achieve change. If Manila refuses to lead, let Cebu show the country how to achieve change for our children's future and for love of country.

"We told Ninoy that he was not alone. We assure you that you are not alone either. Indeed, there are a growing number of us who want to do the right thing for our country. You only have to monitor Filipino groups or list served in the internet to sense the growing surge of love and passion for our country. We, the Global Mandauehanons ([email protected]), enjoin you to help us in our fight to make a better Mandaue and a Philippines that we can be proud of by doing the right thing. We realize that Manila has much influence on this case. Let us work together to neutralize that undue influence and send those who ravaged our treasury to jail.

"Yes, there is hope for our country. Yes, we can change what is ailing the nation. Lead us by showing our political servants that crime does not pay. Yes, you can do it. By joining hands with the people, we can make a difference. Yes, we can! Truly yours, Concerned Mandaeuhanons."

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Email: [email protected]