Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Year of the (Scape)Goat



THE Chinese lunar year may consider this the Year of the Goat, but for the Aquino administration this might as well be the Year of the Scapegoat. Any attempt to lay the blame on President BS Aquino The Last will certainly get his goat, and nobody in his inner core wants that.
On second thought, it should be Years of the Scapegoat for since June 30, 2010, the administration has always pinned the responsibility on persons other than the President or his cohorts. Former Presidents Marcos and Arroyo, the weather, world economy and now, canned Special Action Force chief Gen. Getulio Napenas are Exhibits “A” of this propensity to point fingers at others, to find scapegoats for anything amiss during the current administration.
The followers of President BS Aquino The Last may consider him lily white (or is it “as pure as the vestal virgins?”) who could do nothing wrong. Or, if they do believe that he had committed a big blunder, they go to any extent just so the wrong things won’t be attributed to him.
During their days as cadets, the present top military officers were the epitome of honesty.
Now, they’re most willing to lie, to lose their credibility, just to keep their commander-in-chief from getting any flak from the Mamasapano Massacre. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll confess that they killed Andres Bonifacio should BS Aquino The Last order them to say so.
The House of Representatives decided to conduct an inquiry to know the truth about the Mamasapano Massacre, only to stop it when there were attempts by the Makabayan bloc led by Rep. Neri Colmenares to call the president. Oh yes, a friend said that during the congressional hearing, he heard the chairman say that the purpose of the inquiry (sic) “is to know what is really happened.”
The defenders of the faith still have to say something coherent on why the President has refused to give full details on his involvement in and knowledge of the Mamasapano incident. They decry “rumors” about the truth but ignore the fact that the truth could have been bared if only the President hasn’t been reluctant to dwell into details.
I must concede the apologists of Malacañang are quite creative at making a spin on any issue against their idol. They brand those who want stronger action against the MILF as “pro-war” or “anti-Muslim.” To their mind, one can’t seek justice and still be pro-peace. They criticize those who shout against the atrocity for being “emotional,” as if to be against ghastly deeds were a sin. They say those who seek a review of the Bangsamoro Basic Law are against peace in Mindanao, as if one can’t be against the BBL and for peace at the same time.
The followers of the Malacañang tenant are even turning the tables on the family of the massacre victims who accuse him of doing nothing to help the SAF heroes. These Yellowtards are saying the family members shouldn’t feel so bad because they know their kin were soldiers who could die any moment in performing their duties. These Aquino diehards even accuse the relatives of trying to gain media mileage by airing their complaints.
To Malacañang, their friends in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are not to blame for the massacre. The SAF commandos asked for it–deserved to die and treated brutally– for invading MILF “territory” without coordination in trying to arrest Marwan. But hey, hasn’t the MILF kept saying that Marwan wasn’t in their territory?
The President is not lily-white. He’s not a saint just because he refuses to accept any blame.
Filipinos would respect a sinner who admits his errors, accepts his accountability, begs for forgiveness and vows never to commit the same sins again. I guess the President, a serial sinner, cannot do any of these things so this gives more reason for Filipinos to flock to EDSA tomorrow to seek his resignation.
19espiloy47@gmail.com

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