Serendipity

I recently watched three events of varying social impact broadcast live over national television. I was home checking examination papers so I had the chance to watch them. For the purpose of getting a common characterization, let's call them TV shows.

First TV show - Legislative Investigation. When I heard the Senate was investigating the death of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd delos Santos in aid of legislation, I dropped what I was doing. True, I have been atrophied by such act of our lawmakers because from the many legislative investigations I have witnessed on television nothing significant has come from them. No bill was filed in Congress to address concerns raised in the investigation. Alone, I said "what the heck, I might just as well be entertained."

I surmised senators would love hogging the cameras by asking pointless questions, but aside from the entertainment value, I was curious to see the suspected murderers/policemen. I hoped that confronted with few meaningful queries, they would be unable to hide their murderous predilection and expose their barbaric nature.

I cannot believe the declaration by one of them that the young boy seen in CCTV footage carried by two policemen was not Kian but a police asset. His statement appeared to have been carefully scripted. From where I sat, I could discern his eyes revealed the reverse of what his lips mumbled. That he was only recalling what he was told to say minutes earlier. To be fair to him though, I could be biased considering that in my mind flashed various reports of the admission of two policemen that they were the ones who dragged Kian. What was the truth? I was so enraged by the policeman's barefaced lie that I almost threw the cup of coffee I was holding at the TV.

Second TV show - Parliamentary Privilege. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, protected from suit for utterances made in legislative forum, revealed the corruption eating the Bureau of Customs. He pried open the Pandora's box that was public knowledge, naming names only whispered in secret and cited eye-popping figures that were subject of then rumor mills.

The end of his privilege speech, however, was ominously dull. I was disheartened his revelation of BOC's corruption was unguided and hazy. What Lacson wanted done was not said. He made neither recommendation to any investigative agency whom to prosecute nor offered evidence to buttress such prosecution. I thought his accusations were useless rabble-rousing for concerned parties to sing his tune in the future. What a waste of saliva!

Third TV show - Marawi Crisis presscon. The press conference presided by B rig. Gen. Rest itu to Padilla and A SEC Kristoffer P uri sim a, two gentlemen I had no opportunity to be formally introduced to, was serendipity. In contrast to the other shows mentioned above, which I could characterize as inconsequential, Padilla and Purisima showed, quite responsibly, what government had accomplished in fighting the Maute band. They were thoroughly knowledgeable and where they felt the information did not satisfy the inquisitive, they were quick to admit it. From them I learned that only 1/2 square kilometers of Marawi City is left as a battleground. They warmed my heart with their information that the Grand Mosque of the Muslims was retaken with great care.

If only the kind of persons that Padilla and Purisima are attended the two TV shows, my week would have been profound ly meaningful.