Evil triumphs when good men do nothing

Why are the good people too silent in the midst of man's relentless inhumanity? In the face of too many anomalies, why do too many good people continue to remain silent? The only way for the corrupt, the abusive and the incorrigible grafters to triumph is for good Filipinos to do nothing.

Back in the 1700's, Irish statesman Edmund Burke said: "The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This has been understood that when people remain silent in the face of injustice, corruption, and excesses committed by powerful men, then evil practices committed by rascals, scoundrels, and scalawags shall continue to flourish.

Can you imagine how a couple in Pasig could ostentatiously display their opulence while the whole nation is flooded due to substandard flood control projects, many constructed by their many construction companies? They proudly exhibited their luxury cars and declared that their wealth started to prosper when they commenced doing projects for DPWH. Why did the DPWH officials remain silent? What could be the implications of silence in the face of shame?

Why were the congressmen and congresswomen in Bulacan mysteriously silent when the president himself inspected the ghost flood control projects in their jurisdictions? Why did they fail to issue a statement to explain themselves or their possible involvement in the anomalies committed right there in their respective congressional districts? Why would the Bulacan governor wash his hands concerning the perennial flooding in Hagonoy, Calumpit, Obando, and Bulacan, when he should also be accountable on the principle of command responsibility?

And what about Cebu representatives? Why are they mysteriously and nonchalantly silent in the midst of too much noise in mass media and social media? Why is the congresswoman representing the 1st District silent in the midst of too much flooding in Talisay City under the leadership of her husband? About the Mananga River dredging that led to the suspension of the former governor? About the deterioration of the Carcar district hospital? About the many projects in Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, and Sibonga?

The congressman representing the 2nd District has always been well-known as a contractor himself. Why is he silent about the poor quality of roads and highways in Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon Oslob, Santander, and Samboan? Why is he not explaining to his constituents whether or not he has links to the flood control projects in the 2nd District? The same questions could be asked to the congresswoman representing the 7th District? Why is she silent when her husband has been representing this district for the longest time? And why is she mum about the QM Builders, which is based right in Dumanjug within her district?

The 7th District remains the poorest among all the congressional districts in Cebu Province. The towns of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Malabuyoc Alegria, and Ginatilan are among the poorest municipalities with the highest poverty incidence. The quality of infrastructures in the district is of the lowest quality. Despite the tourism potential in Moalboal and Badian and the fast-growing economy in Dumanjug, why are the people very poor? Why have the members of the House representing this district unable to cause the building of quality infrastructures so as to boost tourism and industry?

How about the honorable representatives of the 3rd District , the 4th and the 5th, as well as the 6th, and the members of Congress representing Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue City? Only the politicians have prospered with their huge salaries and multiple allowances. Why are the people being overtaxed to fund the budgets of members of Congress who choose to remain silent in the midst of the nation's many problems and predicaments? I miss the days when illustrious and worthy solons from Cebu would stand up in the plenary sessions of the House and the Senate to denounce the many shenanigans in government and in society.

Why are all the highly-paid members of the House representing Cebu safely and intentionally silent in the midst of too many controversies? The same is true with all the other members of the House and the Senate from all the nooks and crannies of this plundered nation, why are they seemingly enveloped in a virtual conspiracy of indifference? The answers my friends, are blowing in the wind. They are blowing in the wind. And we, the people, may never know them at all.