Misguided priorities
TOO much time was spent deliberating on the bill seeking to renew the franchise of broadcast giant ABS- CBN Corp., but more important pieces of legislation such as the Anti- Terrorism bill get past the wringer without much difficulty.
The obvious reason is because President Rodrigo Duterte wants the Anti- Terrorism Law. From the time he was a presidential candidate campaigning for election in 2016, he had repeatedly warned that ABS-CBN would not get a new franchise because the network had allegedly duped him by not airing his political advertisements that had been paid for.
It is troubling enough how Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. has been trying to distance President Duterte from these issues. It is more worrisome how the administration is instilling fear among the public by trying to limit the exercise of some freedoms.
Nothing is wrong in scrutinizing the franchise application of the country’s top broadcasting network, but something smells awful when other applicants were spared the same meticulous scrutiny. Something is wrong when lawmakers repeatedly ask questions that had already been answered. Something is wrong when lawmakers wanted ABSCBN to adopt labor rules that the government itself has been guilty of violating, such as regularizing contractual employees.
Nothing is wrong in legislating a measure that will protect citizens from terrorists, but giving the police the power to arrest anyone without warrant on the mere basis of suspicion is wrong. It would have been all right if we had a disciplined police organization whose officers strictly follow the law and who punish violators, regardless of position.
The situation becomes entirely different when law enforcers blatantly violate laws and either get away with it or are meted the lightest penalty possible. The number of violators may be considered just a small percentage of the good ones, but that’s enough to scare people and inflict so much damage to persons and the communities.
In the case of ABS-CBN, it has admitted its shortcomings. It is far from being a perfect media organization or private company. But some politicians who have become subjects of critical media reports take the chance at exacting retribution; others are probably bargaining for positive treatment in the event the network gets back its franchise to operate.
In one of the public hearings being streamed online, I saw Anakalusugan party- list Rep. Michael Defensor grilling ABS- CBN executives over the non-regularization of employees who have been with the company for 10 years or so. Defensor occupied positions in the executive department when he was considered a “bright boy” in the Arroyo administration. He was also a city councilor before he won a congressional seat in 1998. He belongs to a political family. He should be aware about the hundreds of thousands of employees on job order in the bureaucracy, particularly in the local government units. Is fair application of the law out of our system already?
The point I’m trying to drive into is about the misuse and abuse of the powers bestowed on authorities, and the prerogative to selectively apply the laws on private persons and companies.
Government officials and law enforcement officers ought to be respected and followed. But if they themselves cannot have the discipline to follow the laws they’re supposed to implement, how can they expect the people to respect and follow them?
The administration’s move to tax online sellers may be acceptable but only if it is also running after the big tax cheats and collecting the correct amount of taxes from them, without entering into compromises such as the Chinesedominated Philippine offshore gaming operators and the professionals who have been charging outlandish rates such as accountants, lawyers, doctors and engineers.
If only the tax collection agencies have been aggressively running after tax evaders and avoiders, then the government would have more money to spend for basic services such as health and sanitation, as well as education.
If only the government agencies and officials have been judicious in spending scarce public resources, then it would be consoling for salaried workers to part with a substantial part of their monthly pay for the withholding income tax.
Sadly, we are treated almost every day to extravagance and abuse by some people in government. Add to that the employment with hefty pay of a former dancer whose expertise is creating and spreading disinformation.
In this time of a global pandemic, we need to keep our sanity. Let’s hope to be properly guided by people in government. The biggest lesson we can learn from this difficult situation is discernment and trust in the right people we put in positions of power.