Will it mean more jobs and higher wages to enable Filipinos to cope with increasing prices of practically everything?
Will it mean less criminality and a more secure environment for citizens?
Will the verdict translate to timely and adequate action to keep the poor out of harm’s way in the event of typhoons and resulting floods, landslides and similar disasters?
All these questions are addressed to Malacañang, which spent months fixated on pinning down the chief justice in the face of other concerns that need attention. Congress, too, let its work slide.
Perhaps now they can get back to work.
***
The impeachment court’s decision on Corona carries with it plus and minuses.
We all agree on the need for transparency and accountability in government office. This is mandated by the Constitution. Article XI, Section 1 says that “public office is a public trust.”
Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency. They must act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
The Corona trial also serves as a wake-up call for the members of the Judiciary. They should respond to calls for reform. Their branch of government has been weighed down by complaints of graft and corruption.
Whatever we say about the final decision, it shows us one thing: That democracy works in this country through the system of checks and balances.
Unfortunately, the trial has damaged the Supreme Court as an institution. It has also sent a chilling effect—that the Palace can mobilize agencies such as the Land Registration Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
This tells us how far a President is willing to go in the name of what he calls reform, using his awesome powers.
Is it worth it? Are we now to agree that the end justifies the means?
***
With the impeachment teleserye over, the nation’s focus now is on politics. Indeed, the elections next year is fast approaching.
Many interesting things are happening: Former President Joseph Estrada is running for mayor in Manila and movie and television personality Vic Sotto is trying his luck against Mayor Herbert Bautista in Quezon City. Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is running for governor of Sarangani. The local scene is lively.
But the focus is on the senatorial race. The United Nationalist Coalition of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Estrada has come out with a formidable line up, which includes Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Koko Pimentel, Greg Honasan, Jackie Ponce Enrile, JV Ejercito, Dick Gordon, Migz Zubiri, Mitos Magsaysay, Gwen Garcia—and possibly two more.
We can be sure that at least 10 of them will win. This leaves only three slots for newcomers and the other wannabes.
On the Liberal Party side, President Aquino has already endorsed four—Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, Tesda Director Joel Villanueva, former party list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Rep. Sonny Angara, son of Senator Edong Angara. Oh well, they can dream, can’t they?
The Nacionalista Party wants to coalesce with the Liberal Party. Senator Manny Villar wants his wife Cynthia to run for the Senate. Whether or not she can win is a big question mark.
***
The move of Malacañang to have Customs Chief Biazon run for the Senate is considered by many as a big mistake. If he runs, he will be considered a lame duck—entirely useless as chief of the Bureau of Customs.
My gulay, Biazon has hardly warmed his seat and now he will leave it at once? Observers say the frequent changing of top officials has been responsible for the failure to curb smuggling.
In fairness to Biazon, he’s trying his best to institute reforms in his bureau.
***
I heard Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas make a summation last Monday’s at the impeachment trial. I could not help but recall that he had confessed that he had not signed the Articles of Impeachment against Corona because he was a slow reader and could not possibly have read everything.
But last Monday, Fariñas was there accusing the chief justice of so many things, saying that Corona used lame excuses in defending himself from the charges thrown at him by the prosecutors. I believe the word he used was “palusot.”
Wasn’t there a point when Fariñas was ready to resign from the prosecution?
But, there he was, castigating Corona for the lame excuses he offered about not disclosing his peso and dollar accounts in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
There is a name for people like Fariñas, but I won’t say it here because it’s not polite.
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