How many scandals can the country take?

Emails and egroups are again abuzz these days, but no longer with the national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE Corp. scandal. Even as the clamor for truth in that particular sad (for our country) and sordid episode continues – and it must continue until we finally get the truth, the whole truth – other scandals have begun to rear their ugly heads.

What’s been going around is the article of former Wall Street Journal editor Barry Wain in the January-February issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review entitled  “Manila’s Bungle in the South China Sea.” It deals with an agreement signed in September 2004 by the heads of government of the Philippines and China for joint seismic studies in that part of the South China Sea that covers the Spratly islands, a long contentious area. Wain points out several things not right with that agreement, including our going against the ASEAN stand (which we had pushed for in the first place) of dealing with China on the Spratly issue as a group rather than individually.

The article goes on to reveal that the joint exploration covered by the agreement even includes parts of the Philippines’ continental shelf, next to the Malampaya natural gas fields off Palawan. Although over three years old, the full text of the agreement has reportedly been kept under wraps, much like the non-contract that covered the NBN-ZTE non-deal. Which leads mischievous minds to wonder if there are other – and how many – agreements that we unsuspecting citizens don’t know about.

A colleague cautions that this may not really be as sinister as it appears, since “oil exploration is an expensive proposition and it is not uncommon (to have) such cooperative ventures.” Besides, “it is a very long way between initial seismic studies and actual oil drilling, and for all we know there may not even be any oil there to fight about.”

True, it might turn out that there is nothing there to fight about, so like the cancelled NBN-ZTE deal, since no money was paid out and no territory was given up, it’s “no harm no foul” as one Palace minion said. Is that how government officials define accountability these days? Oh, then we must resoundingly and emphatically tell them and show them otherwise!

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself,  “He won’t call me to account?” Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.