Have Faith?

Last Saturday afternoon, we received word that my god-daughter’s piano teacher, a friend from church, was missing. The day before he had gone out to Batangas to teach a company choir, something he had been doing weekly for a while now. He had arranged to meet his wife in Manila on Saturday morning, but he never showed up. Later in the day, his car was found by the highway in San Pablo, Laguna, but there was no sign of him. Details trickled in as apprehension mounted; his clothes, stained with blood, were found inside the vehicle. Police took fingerprints from the car, people in the surrounding area were interviewed, but hardly any information of significance was obtained. His mother and his wife rushed out there, as did church friends who could assist in the search. More friends offered whatever "connections"–to police, military, local and national officials–they had.

As I write this, there is still no word on his whereabouts, and no leads as to where he is or what has happened to him. Family and friends are hoping for the best, while fearing the worst. When something like this happens to someone you know, it sends a chill up your spine. It’s no longer a news item or a statistic in a report; it’s a name, a face, a friend.

How much faith does the ordinary man-in-the-street have in our law enforcement agencies? With all the sordid stories Rosebud is telling the Senate–and the rest of us riveted in front of the television set during each televised hearing–what are we to think? Drug deals, kidnap syndicates, salvage crews...it’s mind-boggling. While all of these accusations have to be proven with evidence in a court of law, many people tend to believe that there’s truth to Rosebud’s tales. Since they’re so busy with all these "activities", someone commented, no wonder the cops don’t have time to catch the crooks. But how can they "catch the crooks" when they themselves are the crooks, was the retort. Maybe if they’re busy with these big-time deals, ventured another, they’ll leave the ordinary folk alone. Unless, of course, you fit nicely into their schemes–as an easy target for kidnap, for example.

So where does that leave you and me? And the family of our music teacher? I read the admonition of NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco (please see page 12) to "have faith" in our government institutions. I’m trying, sir, I’m trying.