Manila Bulletin

Politics of hate

- By HECTOR R. R. VILLANUEVA

THE Benigno Simeon Aquino administra­tion, as its legacy, will be remembered for introducin­g and enhancing the politics of hate, and the culture of vindictive­ness, political vendetta, and selective justice in Philippine society.

Contrary to media hype and poll survey, there have been very few meaningful reforms as Pres. Noynoy Aquino spent his first five years in office chasing and persecutin­g his political enemies instead of institutin­g fundamenta­l reforms in the bureaucrac­y and Congress under his “daang matuwid” (straight path) advocacy which turned out to be long on rhetoric and short on applicatio­n.

The Aquino politics of hate surfaced in 2010 with Pres. Noy Aquino’s hostile and undisguise­d determinat­ion to impeach and oust Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, followed by the incarcerat­ion of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for corruption and plunder.

This manhunt for political enemies also resulted in the detention of three opposition senators, namely, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and Sen. Bong Revilla for plunder and corruption in connection with the alleged Priority Developmen­t Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam of Janet Lim Napoles.

Encouraged by the climate of vindictive­ness and lack of civility, the Senate, led feebly and lackluster­ly by Senate President Franklin Drilon, then launched its own campaign of vendetta led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes, Sen. Peter Alan Cayetano, and Sen. Koko Pimentel of the Blue Ribbon subcommitt­ee against Vice President Jejomar Binay and family.

It is obvious, from the marathon hearings of the subcommitt­ee, that the three senators carry and harbor self-serving and personal motives against Vice President Jejomar Binay who remains a serious contender for the presidency in 2016.

Truth to tell, the Aquino administra­tion is beginning to unravel with the economy slackening in the midst of global economic turmoil, and the masses (his “bosses”) increasing­ly dissatisfi­ed, and the OFWs in rebellion over the no-brainer policy on opening of balikbayan boxes.

Will Pres. Benigno Noynoy Simeon Aquino be remembered for the Luneta hostage-taking carnage, the Mamasapano massacre and fiasco, corruption and rampant criminalit­y, or the “Daang Matuwid” advocacy that warped over time?

On the other hand, there are many who believe in Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s personal honesty and sincerity in giving back to the people the harvest and benefits of economic growth.

When all is said and done, should there be a continuity of administra­tion, Mr. Mar Roxas will have to betray his own elite class by downsizing the oligarchy and democratiz­ing wealth by redistribu­tion of income by making the few rich pay more, that will truly bring” inclusive” growth to the masses.

You be the judge.

“Indeed, revenge is always the pleasure of a paltry, feeble, tiny mind.”

— Juvenal

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