Plain View
By ATTY. ROMEO V. PEFIANCO
(Editor’s note: Mistaking Bali airport for NAIA and attributing harassment from our airport officers badly need pictures of differences. The so-called coup plotters are not deadly serious, as noted by the author.)
MANILA, Philippines — It was David Letterman, in his late night show, who asked Canadian actor Taylor Kitsch if the incident about an airport harassment – asking for a bribe – took place in the Philippines. Kitsch did not answer or correct Letterman’s impression on his CBS show. TV anchors/comedians seldom read maps/geography, a subject that won’t get laughter from the audience and viewers.
Differences
For our purpose, here are differences between Indonesia and the Philippines:
Indonesia
Population – 246M
Land area – 1,904,569 sq km
Religion – 86 per cent Muslim
No. of islands – 13,500
Philippines
Population – 98M
Land area – 300,000 sq km
Religion – 81 percent Roman Catholic
No. of islands – 7,100
The Portuguese and Dutch took turns in colonizing Indonesia, while our country was impoverished by two world powers, Spain and the US.
For Filipinos in New York
The above may help the Filipinos in New York, countless thousands of them, who might want to annoy Letterman that Bali airport in Indonesia, not the NAIA in Pasay was the Canadian actor’s destination. If Letterman decides to correct his facts/figures, it will benefit our tourism. If he decides to keep silent, it would mean he prefers to end the controversy behind a curtain of ignorance.
Culprit identified
The Indonesian deputy minister for justice and human rights said last Wednesday his ministry has identified the Indonesian immigration officer and he is now facing investigation and sanctions if found guilty. Our embarrassment is undeserved, especially under an administration determined to make grafters big and small forget their past conduct.
The coup fever
The reason for staging or plotting a coup against the government is not well defined. The 1986 revolution against dictatorship provided all the motives that were proper grounds to end a regime that rewarded only Filipinos who faithfully supported martial law.
People disappeared or were found dead, but the culprits remained nameless, faceless, and protected by the regime. Military courts were fast in returning guilty verdicts against dissenters, militants, and objectors giving them long prison terms.
Dark covers
Worse, martial law provided the dark cover for the public assassination of political opponents like Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and Gov. Evelio B. Javier. Stealing government coffers was NOT uncommon to the point of impoverishment. The national economy between September, 1972, and February, 1986, was on the brink of complete failure. Our foreign relations with the more progressive nations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas could be characterized as total “watchfulness.”
Counting the ‘faults’
Let’s count the “faults” of the Aquino government:
1) a former president is facing a charge of electoral sabotage,
2) her Comelec chairman is facing the same case,
3) graft charges were filed against the former president, her Comelec Chairman, and a former Cabinet member,
4) former senior AFP officers who failed the test of “good and honest conduct” of a soldier are facing similar graft charges, and
5) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been impeached and is now presenting his defense before the Senate as impeachment court.
Our gains
The stock market has shown unprecedented gains as foreign investors continue to pledge billions for industry.
So far, after 22 months in office, the Aquino administration has not shown wanton opportunism and other acts worth the mention of graft and corruption.
Two great sins deserve a big threat to oust an existing government:
1) oppression of the small people, and
2) unrestricted graft and corruption committed by high officials without facing punishment equal to their crimes.
The coup fever will remain slight and below 39 degrees Celsius. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com)
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