People power for justice

There has been an abundance of good news for all Filipinos  sincerely outraged about corruption and are seeking justice. The Department of Justice finally filed charges against the first batch of alleged PDAF plunderers which included three senators — Enrile, Estrada, Revilla — other lawmakers, former government officials and Janet Lim Napoles.

Then came the filing of charges against 20 former DAR and DBM executives implicated in the plunder of Malampaya Funds and included Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Executive Secretary  Ermita.

The President’s speech at the Brotherhood of Christian Business and Professionals revealed the possible size of these past scams. According to P-Noy, initial studies show that the amount of funds lost due to questionable manipulations of the budget and other worthless projects may exceed P 1 TRILLION.

P-Noy’s resolution to find and disclose the truth and to eliminate corruption in government is evidenced by the people he has appointed to lead the fight for justice. There are the four Furies — DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima, COA Chair Grace Pulido Tan, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and BIR Commissioner Kim Henares.

Recognition must also be given to Cabinet members who have accepted the challenge of heading departments that have traditionally been considered as intrinsically corrupt. They have managed to introduce clean and honest governance to their departments. They have been able to drastically reduce the extent of corruption and improve the effectiveness of their departments.

Some of these persons are Br Armin Luistro, Education; Rogelio Singson, Public Works; Virgilio de los Reyes, Agrarian Reform; Cesar Purisima, Finance; Ramon Jimenez, Tourism; and Margie Juico, PCSO.

The results of their performance and positive reports coming from people who have transacted business with these agencies are evidence that corruption has greatly diminished and efficiency has greatly improved.

In fact tax evaders, money launderers and smugglers try to console themselves by saying that in 2016, a government under another president is expected to go back to the old ways. So those facing charges are simply trying to postpone and delay final judgment until a new president and a new group of officials who will again bring back the old corrupt ways are installed.

Based on objective performance standards, I can only  agree with P-Noy that these government officials’ competency and integrity do not deserve to be compared  to those of a “student council.” I am also aware that for most of these officials, government service is a financial sacrifice and they accepted the challenge because of the vision and the leadership offered to them by the President.

But  in spite of the successes in the fight against corruption and the desire to bring justice to those who are guilty, there are groups who continue to either question the motives of the President or to muddle the issues.

There are those who served in leadership positions in the past administration and are now vulnerable to charges of plunder and graft. In his speech  P-Noy stated that P836 billion and perhaps more than P1 trillion was lost, stolen, toyed with and used in corrupt transactions.

P-Noy then asked if it is an exaggeration to assume that perhaps the money is still in use today to erode the people’s trust in Daang Matuwid? To sow chaos and discord in different ways and to contest the very situation we find ourselves in today, where we who have been oppressed for so long, we who are searching for justice, are the ones who will now prosecute and hold accountable those who have committed crimes against the nation.

Is it an exaggeration to think that a portion of the funds now in the hands of those who stole billions from the people in the last government — to allot wherever they wish — are now using these funds in an attempt to return this country to the old and corrupt ways of doing business?

Then there are those whose political values runs counter to those of the Filipino people. Since they lack the mass base, they will ride on issues raised by other groups. One such group is composed of those who cling to the universally discredited Left ideology even in  Russia and China.

These groups clearly want to replace not just the present administration but the entire system of democratic government with their own collective and communist system of government. So these red flag waving groups are using the anti-pork barrel issue merely as a front to promote their own political ideology.

But the Filipino people can be very discerning. They know the difference between sincerity and pretension, between courage and bluster.

Look at the story of the Million People March which started as a non-political, non ideological crusade against corruption. It started in Luneta with over 100, 000 participants including relatives and friends of mine. Shortly after, participation began to decline. When the red flag-waving groups held their own version in Mendiola, it had only 700 people.

The organizers set another rally in Makati, the birthplace of People Power. But the organizer announced she was angry “especially at the President.” Then a social media announcement, repeated by radio announcers, went out inviting people to the “Resign P-Noy” rally in Makati.  What started as a crusade has developed a political agenda. The rally drew 2,800 participants, very far from the figure the organizers had hoped for.

The Filipino people invented People Power. A Million People marched to EDSA and stayed for four days and their numbers grew every day.

There were no radio or television commentators egging the people to march to EDSA. The whole media, except for one clandestine radio station, were all on the other side. There was no Twitter, no Facebook, no text messaging and no cell phones. There was only word of mouth.

It is neither media or technology that creates People Power.

There was a cause worth fighting for – bring down the Marcos martial rule and restore democracy. There was a moral leader that the people trusted – Corazon Aquino.

Today the cause is to bring to justice those who stole a trillion pesos by putting them in jail and eliminate corruption. And the moral leader that People Power trusts is President Noynoy Aquino.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]