On edge: Letting the rule of law do the talking

Events in the news lately have been charged and rousing. The US presidential campaign, for one, has always been on edge, especially with former US president Donald Trump running again under the Republican banner. However, it was punctuated yesterday by an apparent attempt on his life during a campaign rally.

Trump was wounded by a bullet that grazed his ear but thankfully is safe. Unfortunately, a spectator was killed and two were critically injured in the shooting. US President Joe Biden immediately issued a statement, emphasizing that there is no place in America for this kind of violence.

In the Philippines, Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio revealed in a media interview that she will not attend the president’s State of the Nation Address scheduled for July 22. What made it polarizing was her apparent joke about appointing herself as the “designated survivor”. Jokes are half-meant, they say, and if the vice president was joking, as she apparently was, it was a misplaced one.

For those not familiar with the term “designated survivor”, it became part of pop culture as a TV series of the same name on Netflix. The story centers on a member of the US Cabinet who is chosen to remain at a secure, undisclosed location when the country's top leaders gather for the State of the Union address. This ensures the continuity of government in the event of a catastrophic incident that kills the president and all those in the line of succession.

Other events in our country contributing to the charged atmosphere of recent months include the continued attempts to arrest Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted for alleged trafficking, and the investigation into the illegal POGO hubs featuring the now-elusive mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, Alice Guo.

I’m sure all of us, both on personal and community levels, have been subjected to charged atmospheres or situations. In most instances, these have been triggered by posts on social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok, which often lead to premature judgments and caustic tit-for-tat exchanges. In my case, the best way I avoid being caught up in a charged situation is to steer clear of unverified information, especially when it comes from just about any John or Jane Doe who posts or shares materials on social media.

My training as a lawyer has likely influenced my approach, but anyone is capable of effectively handling a charged scenario. For one, it's important to focus on the law and regulations, which are established not on a whim, but for a purpose.

Consider the case of Guo --despite significant public attention, she has persisted in actions that undermine our system of law and governance. Efforts must be focused on holding her and her alleged cohorts accountable; this is the most crucial task. No amount of brouhaha or anger over the Guo issue should distract us from the need to hold her legally accountable. The Anti-Money Laundering Council has already secured a freeze order from the Court of Appeals for the assets of suspended Mayor Guo and others allegedly involved in illegal POGO operations, demonstrating what I mean by real, not merely charged, rhetoric. The same applies to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Real progress will be marked by his arrest and placement under the jurisdiction of our courts.

No amount of Quiboloy-bashing or Guo-bashing can remedy the systemic defects that have brought us to this point, where money influences outcomes more than democratic values and the rule of law. We must let the rule of law speak by actively building strong cases and enforcing the law.