I must confess my surprise if not shock that the government openly took a position against Senator Bato dela Rosa in his bid for a TRO from the Supreme Court.
My shock or surprise is not rooted or triggered by political inclinations or sympathies but fear that our current government, the Marcos administration, will throw any Filipino to the dogs.
In this case, a Philippine senator will be surrendered to the ICC, facing perpetual detention with total disregard for the rights or protection of Filipino citizens because they belong to the opposition party or are allies of the Dutertes.
Just so that our readers understand where I’m coming from, allow me to share an item provided through AI. It is the powerful and famous quote “First They Came” by German pastor Martin Niemöller.
It serves as a stark warning about the dangers of apathy, silence and failing to stand up for others when injustice occurs. Martin Niemöller originally wrote this as a confession of his own initial failure, and the failure of the German society, to speak out against the Nazis:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.
“The they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out –because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
I am deeply disturbed when government officials and employees do the bidding of politicians if only to please or appease those who appointed them, without even considering the personal, legal, social and constitutional damage their actions cause.
So many “brave” men and women are quick to condemn Bato dela Rosa for skipping town and avoiding arrests. Excuse me! He is not the first and he probably won’t be the last, simply because justice in the Philippines is so perverted and prostituted.
Both sides of the aisle are full of living victims, victims of unfinished impeachments, victims of imprisonment, removal from office, trumped up charges and orchestrated character assassination and demolition jobs, just because you chose the “wrong side.”
Even members of the PNP and the AFP have found themselves sanctioned, publicly accused and humiliated because their institutions demand absolute obedience over truth and principles.
I cannot blame Senator Dela Rosa for doing what he did, he has sufficient incentive to do so and that is the “kidnapping and deportation” of president Rodrigo Duterte without the benefit of a proper court appearance and hearing.
If president Rodrigo Duterte could be grabbed and dumped in a plane, why not Bato dela Rosa who would certainly not be given a fair deal? As the saying goes: “Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
When Senator Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate, I am sure he knew very well that he would probably have to surrender himself to the Senate’s custody while seeking refuge and protection, a long respected practice in Philippine politics.
What he did not see coming was a bunch of people acting like mercenaries and self-appointed sheriffs serving a yet-to-be-seen and published warrant. But as fate would have it, one “foul deed” was foiled by another.
We can label or categorize all of this as politics in the Philippines. Choose to fight or debate with each other, you can even brand or label me as so and so. But what if it happens to you?
What if the tables were turned or those in power are replaced by enemies or law-abiding leaders who hunt down the guilty as well as their accomplices? What if the promotion you’ve been waiting for, for years, was suddenly denied because you were seen as “Dilawan,” “DDS” or “Marcos-forever?”
Members of the media, both traditional and online, constantly have to watch what they write, about who they write because they could simply be edited out, erased or worse, sued for libel, which remains a criminal case in the Philippines.
Giant media companies are no longer around, forced to sell or bought out rather than starve financially. Even big companies and developers have found themselves judicially removed or given an “indecent proposal.”
I have lived long enough, seen more than I cared to and known enough people in every level of society and I can tell you that no one is spared the “unnecessary misfortunes of life.”
I recently heard this Chinese proverb: “When you choose to take revenge, shoot two arrows. One for your enemy and the other for yourself.”
They say karma is a bitch and it is when it has your name. Back in my days in UP Village, I would often hear friends say “bilog ang bola” or “ang buhay para lang gulong ng Magnolia (Ice cream vendor); kung minsan nasa taas ka na, natatapakan ka pa.”
( The ball is round, and life is sometimes like the cartwheel of the Magnolia ice cream vendor. You are already on top and yet someone still puts their foot on top of you.)
If you’re still not convinced, I challenge you to read the book of Esther and what happened to the powerful official named Haman.
I close with these Bible verses for your consideration: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” – Galatians 6:7
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