Response to Senator Cayetano's Proposal to Name Corrupt Political Dynasties

Political dynasties are themselves issues of their own, Senator Cayetano. It does not need to be a corrupt political dynasty, in order for a political dynasty to be an issue. Political dynasty, per se, is a corruption of a democratic and republican system of government.

Political dynasties perpetuate the existence of a subservient, ill-informed, and politically uneducated citizenry. It encourages the common individual to believe that bios politikos is reserved for the few, and thus the many needs to just shut up.

As if destined by the stars or written within their genes, it creates the perception that politics are run by those who are born to rule; they are those who, through proper breeding, have good political acumen that courses through their blue-blooded veins which can be passed down from generation to generation.

Political dynasties reinforces the notion of politics as the "work" of a few enlightened individuals as opposed to the deliberation of the many, vulgar crowd. The untransparent discussions of the elite are efficient and necessary to alleviate the burden of policy-making amongst pleasure-seeking individuals within a consumer-defined and materially-driven polity.

Lastly, it testifies to the immaturity and incapacity of the citizenry to effectively govern themselves. From voters that tend to favor the popular, regardless of their credentials (or the lack thereof), to the scarcity of non-dynastic candidates, political dynasties deprive the nation of the talents and skills of capable individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of blood-ties.

Thus, we are deprive of the fruits of diverse perspectives, insights and opinions; the competition of ideas does not exist because not all ideas prolong the existence of a family's hold onto power.

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Good Riddance

Good riddance. It is about time the drama-king got fired. In his capacity as Chief Justice, to interpret a Marcos-era bank secrecy law as justification for absolving himself from the requirements of a more recent law on the accountability of public servants shows his self-serving and corrupt logic.

Common sense suggests that old laws are repealed, implied or expressed, by new laws. R.A. 6713 is m...ore recent and it requires "cash on hand or in banks" be disclosed and this law has a repealing clause. More so, the language of the 1987 Constitution, a more recent and more legitimate social contract (compared to the perverted 1973 Constitution), backs R.A. 6713.

I hope his dollar accounts would give him much consolation; he will need it for his criminal defense. Without the clout of his judicial robes, things could get expensive. No more pro bono legal representation!

I pray the Tanodbayan will extend the same courtesy the impeached and convicted public servant showed to her when she hauls (or drags) him to the Sandigandayan. It will teach future generations of politicians and judges to shed their entitlement mentality and thus, the lesson of humility.

In a country where the rule of law reigns supreme, erring agents and interpreters of the law are treated the same as laymen. Justice knows no kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaklase or kabarilan.

Oh, I can't wait for the Philippine FOI Bill to be enacted into law.

Aquino Administration's Defense of a Pagcor Official's Act: Pure Baloney

Common industry practice, a non-cash gift and taxpayer savings. Wow. These are the Aquino administration's justifications for shielding a Pagcor official's act of accepting non-monetary gifts? These same justifications will lead the pursuit of matuwid na daan to baku-bakong daan.

Common "industry practice" can be interpreted to mean the same crooked ways of how some in the Philippine and foreign private industry have connived with corrupt public officials through bribery in their quest to further their company's quarterly earnings.

Bribery can also be in the form of non-cash gifts. The stand of this administration testifies to the inadequate, outdated and inutile approach of tackling corruption and the laws that define it in the Philippines: talk about a neanderthal perspective to the ever-growing sophistication of this social evil.

Government savings? I would rather pay what is due to the public treasury than be used as a reason for public officials to commit sanctioned bribery. Hospitality provided by foreign government institutions in the course of an official function (e.g., reciprocal diplomatic exchanges of gifts) is understandable.

But hospitality provided by a private institution, even in an official capacity, is always suspect, not above suspicion, and definitely not immune to perception of corruption.

Questions

The right of senators to ask questions should not be limited to a mere observer status common in judicial proceedings. Senators are neither judges bound by court rules of the judiciary even though they may elect to be guided by such rules. It is absurd to limit the capacity of each senator to make inquiries based on a perceived procedural error.

To apply the strictest level of requirement on evidence on a process in which the maximum penalty is no more than perpetual removal from any public office is not grounded on precedent. Does impeachment conviction deprive a person of his/her fundamental right? Is perpetual removal from any public office considered "cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment" that the person accused may take refuge on the bill of rights?

I believe the answer to the two questions asked requires us to answer this question: is public office a fundamental right of a citizen?

Verification and Plagiarism

Verification can only be achieved by reading the document? I thought verification means affixing the signature (confirming acknowledgement) of a declarant, the content being the sole responsibility of the declarant regardless of whether be it true or otherwise.

In any case, raise your hand if you have read your credit card agreement word-for-word before signing it. What about when you bought a car or house? Did you read everything in the document you signed, even the fine print?

Do all lawmakers read the bill they vote on? Last time I heard, the most recent US healthcare law comprised of a thousand five hundred pages. When majority opinions were published, did the majority read the dissenting opinion(s) and were the dissenting opinion(s) given the opportunity to be read and heard?

Due process takes course because the declarants need to defend their statements; the accused have a chance to face his accuser, call witnesses for his defense, and refute the accusation in an adversarial setting.

Last question, why on earth is a political process essentially operated by the Rules of Court? Because there is no originality. Mahilig mag-plagiarize.

"Trial by Publicity"

It only takes for good men to do nothing, for evil to prosper.

--- Edmund Burke ---

When the first magistrate of the highest court in the land has a questionable constitutional appointment and lacks popular legitimacy in the eyes of the many, when a special prosecuting official charged with holding public officials accountable for their action's odds of conviction (winning cases) is no more than twenty percent, in a country where it takes years to indict public officials and arraign them for committing acts of treason against the people and their money, one should not be surprised if the people take matters into their own hands and give their imprimatur on the so called "trial by publicity."

Public Service and Courage

I find it hard to comprehend the gall of some public officials who, by their own words, admitted stealing the people's money but do not expect to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. These public officials will then cry foul and assert their constitutional rights and rely on the ever so slow and grinding wheel of justice, a legal system with so few judges, the Filipino people had the opportunity to witness one recuse himself because he was too afraid of taking a high profile and publicly scrutinized case.

In a country where the family holds a preeminent place even in the letters of the constitution, it is a proper excuse to recuse oneself from public service when circumstances threatens the life and limb of the public official and his family.

But what about the Filipino nation, sir? Do you know what harm you have caused? If judges can excuse themselves from public service when it is not convenient for them and the public allows such reason to hold, how can we expect other public officials to fulfill, with courage and determination, their SWORN DUTY to serve?

If it is inconvenient for politicians to act in the public's best interest, can't they say "well, I need to recuse myself from holding myself accountable when it comes to the people's money. After all, if other public officials can do it, why can't I?"

Due Process is meaningless if citizens acting as temporary delegates of their fellow citizens do not adhere to and does not have the courage to fulfill their sworn duty.

A public official's oath of office becomes "traditional," in the sense that officials do it for the sake of ceremony and pageantry: a mere preference for "making things official" and the feel good sensation it provides.

Honor vs. Reputation (Good Name)

A soldier's death in battle is one of the most honorable sacrifices a citizen can give to his country. But dying to save one's "honor" (I take it this means REPUTATION or GOOD NAME in Philippine English) is quite different.

It is dishonorable to take one's life if living means providing sworn statement that may help reduce the country's graft and corruption. By taking one's life, a great disservice has been done to the Filipino nation; the efforts to exorcise tolerance of a culture of corruption has lost a credible witness who has decided that his "honor" was found wanting.

As a matter of faith, it is a sin to take our own lives regardless of whether it is for the sake of escaping responsibility, public ridicule, and even deflecting what may possibly be an undeserved public shame (how are we to know the truth, now that he is dead?) upon one's family.

A life not guided by our beliefs, but what is convenient,(or has turned away from it) will be weak and exhausted because one cannot hold onto truth, the foundation upon which we are set free regardless of any powers that tries to limit our capacity and potential, be it family, tradition or public pressure, letting our minds be ravaged by the relentless criticism of oneself... our conscience.

In a culture where "guilt by association" holds true and a good name is everything, it is reasonable for individuals to think one's life is of less value.

But what I find hard to understand is if a good name is most important, why do we continuously associate with questionable individuals; why do we abide by, adhere and subscribe to the way these individuals act, which is to say the least, questionable?

Resign from your position! Public service is not only possible by enlisting, getting elected or appointed. Holding others accountable is not limited to becoming a politician, a judge or a soldier. How naive of those who think truth-telling is not public service. Small minds and traditionalists would make that mistake, no doubt.

Honor, in the realm of public service, is a reward the people give to deserving public servants. It is public acclamation bestowed only by the people, not some physical representations of commendations awarded by high public officials which one can accumulate overtime (such as plaques and medals).

It can be taken away even in the late years of a public servant's life, if the people so chooses. The public may be cruel and heartless, even tyrannical. But there is no reason to aspire and to hold democracy as dear if the people is not to rule, and who, as all are imperfect, can sometimes be tyrannical.

Hence, for public officials who likes the idea of and worship having a good name as more important than life itself, that is, more important than divine command to value life, then whenever you make a decision or make policy, keep in mind, above all else, that the public must have a say at all times.

Unless, of course, one wants to be tried by the public.
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Irreverence in the Media

Our papers have one peculiarity. . . They are irreverent toward pretty much everything, but where they laugh one good king to death, they laugh a thousand cruel and infamous shams and superstitions into the grave, and the account is squared. Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense.

- Mark Twain, Notebook, 1888


If you expect news to always have and be told with a floppy, soft, cuddly, warm and pussy feeling, go work for a public relations firm. There, one may harness one's own bleeding-heart inclination and care-bear skills to your heart's content.

It is absurd to lead others, let alone ourselves, to believe that events are absent of wrong deeds; that is why news are told! To expose wrong and put it in the light: that others may see and prevent such thing from occurring again.

Commendable deeds are rewarded in private; sometimes, one needs to expose wrong for the good to exist. Also, one cannot rely on a news correspondent alone to set the tone of one's opinion. Hence, it is impossible to make an informed choice based on the article or report of one individual.

A mature news reader would confirm, through an independent research (preferably your own), the basis of the article and if necesary, determine how the article came to a conclusion. This adversarial demand ensures that information is not particularly tailored to favor a certain bias.

Burdensome it is not? Perhaps, it is this burden that makes the average individual neglect their duty as rational beings capable of choosing for their own what is appropriate or ought to be. It is something that only those capable of assuming the burden of citizenship may realize.

In any case, news media that focus on commendable deeds all the time ought to start considering whether it should provide their services to those who wish to only hear and see what they wish to hear and see.

One of the worst kind of censorship, some newspaper stick with "positive news" or news which is not offensive to the subject of the news even if the object of the news is to reveal the subject's abominable, offensive or unlawful actions.

Stay away from them. It is bad for an individual's ability to stay with reality. It is only recommended for those who see society without hope, that is, in limited and prescribed dosage.

Truth intentionally told in a passion which prohibits offending anyone is not truth. Half-baked truths will not set me free; it will only free me partially and half-heartedly.
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Traditions: Never Ending Cycle of the Same Thing Over and Over

It's amazing how respectable traditions that preserve our cultural identity have gone to the dumps while traditions that undermine society linger.

Mano

While visiting family in Hawaii, I was rather taken aback when a young adult, whom I believe was raised as an American, suddenly took an elder's hand and pulled it to his forehead, a Filipino trait known as "pagmamano" or simply "mano." I felt ashamed even more when an adult took the elder's hand and did the same thing. At that time, I asked myself why of all things that need to die out, this treasured custom is fading away, even in my own ways.

Po

Another dying tradition I lament will soon be gone is the Tagalog's recognition of an elder's venerable status within the family and the community. "Po," "ho," and "opo" are, by far, some of the few words in the Tagalog lexicon worthy of continuing use and adherence; it is a distinctive feature unique even amongst other languages in the Philippines. It is of utmost importance that each of us endeavour to instill the use of these words in our children's daily diet of conversation.

Native Language

Last but not the least, given the age of English and Mandarin, it is of most pressing concern to teach younger generations the use of our native tongue and not sacrifice it for the sake of short-term expediency. Passing it down ensures the transfer of the unique ability to communicate our thoughts in our native tongue: a feat that enables the child to realize his ethnic heritage and thus, should be commended. I believe there are enough young Filipino-Americans here in Southern California whose manner of speech, behavior, and suggestive lifestyle testifies to the importance of having and practicing a native language.

But if we have traditions that needs to be preserved, are there any to the contrary? Of course we do. In fact, those traditions tend to last longer and survival seems to clearly favor these traditions vis-a-vis those aforementioned.

Family Politics

Although criticism should be laid on those who practice it, to say that the many who still subscribes to it are innocent is plain baloney. If we condone, support and sustain this practice, by what right do we complain of political dynasties controlling our lives?

The typical individual, whose complacent nature and desire to unburden himself from the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, surrenders his political life in exchange for a biological life fulfilled by family and material comfort. But in order to do so, they must first choose a benevolent leader, in the confucian fashion, who will be granted near absolute singular authority and eventually perpetuate his hold on power as the comfort of family and materialism do not satisfy himself once exposed thoroughly to power's embrace.

The people's desire to maintain material comfort for the family and their obsessive want to focus on material joy and its creation to achieve the former would discourage each to pursue vita activa in the public realm; it is no wonder why that men such as Peisistratus was allowed to exist in the very heart of ancient democracy.

Ampatuans, anyone?

Government of Men, not Laws

Once we "vote," we leave everything in the hands of our benevolent leaders without understanding that voting is one of the many duties of citizenship, not the only. We do not continually hold accountable those temporary delegates of the people and that is why one prolonged his rule for almost 20 years. We tend to go back to our old ways by voting on the same bloodstrain over and over and over even if they don't know anything about goodness according to the laws.

Hence, good is not about doing right based on the laws, but by what the leader believes to be good. Although there is no absolute good in the laws, arbitrary power starts when men define what is good, instead of the law defining what is good.

Please do not think of it as arrogance when I laugh as I observe. LOL

Mukha

We seem unperturbed when showing our likeness in the public realm without considering that public money is being spent. And even if public money is not spent, the fear of public acclamation does not make us pause and think twice even if it meant adoration amongst the many.

Praising a continual political bloodline, benign or not, should be a wake up call especially when that which the many proclaim to abhor is unmaliciously commended. Wait a minute, aren't we against political dynasties? Peisistratus's rule should not be cited as a good example.

When people support a candidate by acknowledging his family's charitable contributions, then it is time to ask those people not to vote for you because they are merely returning a debt of gratitude (utang na loob) as opposed to acknowledging your skills and acumen for governance.

More to come.
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SK is a Waste of Taxpayers' Money

These kids are better off studying and not learning the way of corruption in their early years.

Exposing young adults to public positions in pursuit of public service may sound reasonable and full of good intentions. But these are the years when they need to go to college and be formally educated themselves.

CRITICAL THINKING is one of those rare things one, given enough effort and patience, may develop inside learning institutions.

Raising from the educational focus of intermediate learning institutions i.e., saturating high schoolers with facts and "what is" information, the value of critical thinking, among other things, lies in its capacity to allow interpretation of collected data through established theories, determining the proper context of circumstances or statements, and most importantly, encouraging individuals to inquire and to question long held assumptions, prejudices and traditional beliefs.

By exposing a young individual to a wide range of views, perspectives and ideas, one does not become easily compromised and readily susceptible to the wisecracks or rhetoric of some silly old fool acting as a fountain of wisdom.

The only education these kids will get if they join SK is how to become a traditional politician; devoid of a critical mind, skills in making distinctions and a principled conscience, these kids become masters of systemic graft & corruption and patronage: our very own TRAPOS.
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Truth Commission and Inquisitorial System

The Truth Commission, by going beyond its mandate, is about to turn into an inquisition run amok.

Peace bonds? Leave it to the Justice Department OR fire the current Justice Secretary and replace her with Davide as Justice Secretary! Since you did not trust the findings of the committee reports on the hostage taking, might as well be done with De Lima.

There is so much focus on the granduer of creating special investigative bodies these days, one forgets that the issue is not the government institution in charge of the investigation, but how will justice be served and how long will the people wait in order to see justice done.
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