I am a Catholic and a Christian. In the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s blasphemous tirades against the Catholic Church and God, I choose not to argue about the concept of creation and original sin because I am not a theologian.
What saddens me, however, is the reaction of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. It has been cowed into silence along with other religious groups.
My gulay, if the God of the Muslims gets insulted, the Muslim world would protest. Unfortunately, here where Roman Catholics represent more than 80 percent of the population, only the usual critics of the President and one Catholic bishop have protested Mr. Duterte’s rants against God and the Church.
The President, Santa Banana, would even like Catholics to discard crucifixes when it reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice to redeem mankind.
I am reminded of the words of Elie Wiesel, a Romanian-born writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor who said: “Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victims. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
The silence of the Catholic Church and the Catholics in this country reminds me of the second commandment: “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord the God in vain.” This is precisely what Mr. Duterte did when he called God stupid.
It’s a national tragedy—this silence amid the President’s rants. Worse, people cheer and applaud when the President does this. Have we sunk that low?
I also blame the priests and the bishops for their failure to evangelize Filipinos well enough to know their religion in the wake of attacks.
***
I join the many critics of the President’s war against loiterers—“tambays” in the vernacular.
For one thing, there is no law against loitering. In fact, vagrancy has been decriminalized. If there are ordinances against going around the streets half-naked or disturbing the peace (like people getting drunk on the streets or minors loitering in the event of a curfew) then that is another matter altogether.
I agree with many that this directive is against the poor. They usually live in small spaces which are their living room and bedroom and kitchen all in one. They feel the need to get out of this just to get some fresh air, mingle with buddies, eat or drink something in a dimly-lit carinderia. This is luxury for the poor‚—why should they be penalized for this?
Congress should investigate this issue in aid of legislation. The campaign against loitering is too confusing to leave to the police.
I saw on the TV the story of a boy who just went of the house to breathe in some fresh air. He was shirtless. When a cop saw him, he was taken to the precinct. Did he violate any laws?
My gulay, we are not yet under martial law. Or are we?
***
When I read the decision of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales indicting former President Benigno Aquino III for alleged usurpation of legislative authority in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program, I fell off my seat laughing.
Aquino and his Budget Secretary Florencio Abad concocted the DAP so they could do whatever they pleased with the money.
Santa Banana, after four years, Aquino and Abad could only be charged with usurpation of legislative authority, which carries the penalty of six months in prison, which can even be suspended penalty under the law.
This is the biggest proof that the Ombudsman is really out to let Aquino off with just a slap on the wrist.
If Morales is true to herself, BS Aquino and his cohorts must be found guilty of multiple homicide in connection with the massacre of 44 members of the Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Aquino was truly responsible and accountable for the deaths of those men because it was he who implemented Oplan Exodus together with then-suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima. Aquino knew what was happening and yet did not order the military to come to the men’s aid because that would endanger the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
My gulay, he could even be indicted for treason for giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
The question: Is Morales even going in that direction? The answer: No way!
And then came the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia controversy. Aquino put at risk more than 800,000 public school children with a vaccine not yet certified as safe by the World Health Organization.
What do you think the Ombudsman is doing with revelations that BS Aquino and his Health secretary, Janette Garin, and even Abad were responsible for making the children guinea pigs for Dengvaxia? You guessed it—nothing.
What a relief Morales will soon retire. She won’t be missed.
***
If the Senate is true to itself in weeding out corruption in government, it should dig deeper into what is called excessive allowances by the Commission on Audit. These allowances were supposedly received by lawyers in the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.
The CoA came out with findings that lawyers in these offices are getting allowances that are more than half their yearly salaries. The list includes former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and now SolGen Jose Calida.
Can we believe the President’s sincerity in his campaign against corruption? This is a president who just recycles erring officials whom he supposedly sacked. The Senate should do its job.