Friday, November 2, 2012

Light at the end of the tunnel

BY REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA
‘Congress just passed a bill that is “principally directed against state agencies that would outlaw acts that result in enforced disappearances.’
The pressure must have been truly irresistible. Was it from the Makati Business Club? Manuel V. Pangilinan? Washington? Or all three?
Why did it take President Noynoy Aquino so long to boost the sagging morale of his amboy of a foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, after the double whammy of a slap he dished out to him via the Trillanes and Roxas missions to China? Why did he take his time to assuage the wounded pride and dignity of Del Rosario who, in reaction to Trillanes’ Noynoy-authorized back channeling with China, indirectly criticized his boss when he said: “We will not dignify those who are working to divide us. There must be one policy and one team in promoting our national interest in the West Philippine Sea.”
Of course, Del Rosario could have simply decided from the start to submit his irrevocable resignation and waited for Noynoy to reject it. But he didn’t want to for reasons known only to him. Obsession with keeping his job? Lack of delicadeza? Amor propio? Traits that are, well, inherent in the average Filipino.
And why did Noynoy have to single out Del Rosario as the only one who will not be affected by a supposed cabinet revamp in the offing if he was never in danger of losing his job in the first place?
Incidentally, being “hardworking” is worlds apart from being “effective.” It was obvious Del Rosario was ineffective in dealing with the Chinese on the Panatag Shoal dispute. Let’s face it – that is precisely why Noynoy had to resort to back channeling through Trillanes. And as if to ratify Del Rosario’s inability to deal with the Chinese effectively, Noynoy had to send DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to Nanning to do what Del Rosario should have been doing.
***
Noynoy concedes that our relations with China became better after Trillanes’ back channeling and Roxas’ meeting with Vice President Xi Jinping and Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying.
Now, if only he would keep Del Rosario away from the Chinese… And, for that matter, from the Americans…
***
Speaking of the US, the visits of her nuclear-powered warships to the country have become too frequent for comfort. Another aircraft carrier, accompanied by two destroyers, is scheduled to dock at Manila Bay via the Panatag Shoal vicinity. Does it have to pass that way to get here?
Aside from the constitutional prohibition against the presence in the country’s territory of nuclear weapons, the visits could poison the atmosphere of improving relations with China which were adversely affected in part by our unwarranted over-dependence on the US protective umbrella. Remember how Del Rosario had been crying Uncle (Sam) every time the Panatag Shoal dispute hogged the headlines?
To begin with, why do these US warships have to come to the Philippines when they could very well dock in Singapore, Thailand or Indonesia, countries that have no conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea?
And what, I ask again, are we getting from the US for the privilege of using our ports and other facilities in their “pivot” to our region?
Also, please don’t give us the bullshit about such privileges being covered under the unconstitutional Visiting Forces Agreement. Enough of that!
Which brings to mind the categorical statement once made by Del Rosario that the Agreement was under review. Well, is it? If not, then his statement was nothing more than a barefaced lie.
***
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying made a courtesy call on Noynoy. That she was received by the President no less was already a grand gesture by itself.
The added gesture of having three cabinet ministers – Ochoa, Roxas and Lacierda – present during the call was not at all necessary.
We do tend to go overboard when according courtesies to foreign government officials which, in truth, diminish their respect for us. Even Del Rosario’s presence at the courtesy call was not necessary. Fu should have been accompanied only by her counterpart, Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio.
During Del Rosario’s previous trips to Beijing or Washington, was he ever accorded such courtesies? Was he able to make a courtesy call on President Hu Jintao or President Barack Obama? I’m sure he would have liked to call on them but due to protocular considerations, his chances of being granted an audience by them would have been like those of a snowball in hell.
Are the heads of state of these countries busier than ours? I think, if Noynoy had his druthers, he would attend to other urgent matters instead of receiving foreign officials of sub-ministerial rank like Fu… unless he too is not aware of the protocol involved in these matters or gets no proper advice from his underlings.
Oh well, kaya tayo hindi iginagalang ng mga dayuhan. Wala tayong muwang sa angkop na pakikitungo sa kanila.
***
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the execrable, obscene, detestable, abhorrent and abominable dynastism that has gripped this land.
I would like to applaud a certain Mr. Louie Biraogo for having filed a petition before the Supreme Court to order the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to implement Article II Section 26 of the Constitution that prohibits political dynasties in polls.
“The list of candidates for national and local government posts in the coming May 2013 midterm elections is the best testament to the mockery this constitutional provision has been subjected to in the hands of political dynasties,” Biraogo argued in his petition.
“It is time to put an end to the continuing insult visited upon the Filipino people by the inexcusable and adamant refusal of Congress to enact legislation for the full enjoyment by the people of a guaranteed state policy,” he added.
Through this space, I would encourage my readers to add their voice and support for Biraogo’s petition. They could also go one step further by urging their children, relatives and friends to do the same through the ballot. My fellow teachers and I have been exhorting our students to do their part as well come election time. They are the ones who will inherit the mess we are leaving behind.
Of course, as his boss, we could demand of Noynoy to add his voice to the crusade. But then, he is a Cojuangco-Aquino…
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Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):
1) Filing of charges against of­ficials of the National Food Administration (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documen­tary evidence to prove the venali­ties in the past in that agency; 2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia; 3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant cor­ruption in the military and police establishments; and 4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.
***
Today is the 170th day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disap­pearance.
There now appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Jonas and his relatives, as well as other victims and the families of enforced disappearance. Congress just passed a bill that is “principally directed against state agencies that would outlaw acts that result in disappearances and allow the prosecution of perpetrators even though their victims remain missing and impose a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.”
Salient provisions of the bill include: no prescription for the crime unless the victim has surfaced; recognizes command responsibility, which means a superior officer would also be culpable for the actions of his subordinates; subordinates, on the other hand, could defy unlawful orders if they were ordered to commit enforced disappearance; all proceedings pertaining to the issuance of writs of habeas corpus, amparo and habeas data shall be dispensed with expeditiously and all courts and other concerned agencies of the government shall give priority to such proceedings.
I assume the bill will be signed forthwith by Noynoy, to be consistent with his campaign promise two and a half years ago. Let’s watch what happens…
***
From an internet friend:
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a fear of someone under my bed at night. So I went to a shrink and told him… “I’ve got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there’s somebody under it. I’m scared. I think I’m going crazy.”
“Just put yourself in my hands for one year,” said the shrink. “Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears.”
“How much do you charge?” I asked.
“Eighty dollars per visit,” replied the expert.
“I’ll sleep on it,” I said.
Six months later, he met me on the street…”Why didn’t you ever come to see me about those fears you were having?” he asked.
“Well, eighty bucks a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot of money! A bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup!”
“Is that so?” With a bit of an attitude he said… “And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the bed! Ain’t nobody under there now!”
***
Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com

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