Learnings from a Senate hearing

IT was a Senate hearing like no other, as indeed, we heard confirmations of what we thought were just stories made to scare us. That indeed, cops made money out of drugs, and they would have gotten away with it longer had not President Rodrigo R. Duterte become the president.

From the testimonies of the witnesses, it is clear that there was no inclination by the police force to crack down on illegal drugs, and that they even earned money by acting as protectors or shaking down every last pusher they could shake down in exchange for not arresting them. It was also clear from the Senate hearing called for by no less than Senator Leila de Lima, who claimed that as Secretary of Justice under the Aquino Administration that she did her best to clean up New Bilibid Prison (NBP) of illegal activities, that there are indeed rubouts being done as attempts to continue with what authorities are doing to get their hands on drug money has been thwarted by the crackdown ordered by the President.

But from a Senate hearing chaired by De Lima, yesterday’s event was well worth it. At least, witnesses themselves said what the President has been saying and this from what can be considered as a hostile setting.

There, right in the face of the former Justice Secretary, witnesses are saying, yes, drugs was being passed around in clear view of law enforcers who are earning so much, they’re willing to keep a blind eye. That said, we move on.

Over at Oslo, Norway, two top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Ma. Sison and Benito Tiamzon, who both served as the party chairman, hugged in an unprecedented move by any Philippine administration in its quest for peace.

This Administration is high on symbols, and it chooses symbols well. On his first state of the nation address (Sona), Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire, which he had to lift soon after when the New People’s Army (NPA) instead of respecting such offer for peace chose to ambush soldiers, and even mutilate the bodies of some. That was enough to send Duterte in a rage. But he did not interfere with the workings of the government peace panel. For his part, the symbolic offers for peace, like a ceasefire and the release of some key political detainees, are designed to manifest sincerity. Talk peace, and there will be more that government will be willing to do. That is the message sent. Back to the drugs problem, the message has always been: Stop it.

For indeed, forgiveness is very difficult to give when someone destroys the future of your children and in the process destroy yours. De Lima would want to make us believe that we are on the wrong side of the fence, but that’s just her.