Dangerous developments

Something very wrong and quite disturbing is happening in our country now as shown by recent and on-going events. People are getting the impression that the rule of law is disregarded with impunity, the basic rights of every citizen are trampled upon, and our moral values and sense of decency are degraded or set aside nonchalantly. This present situation is really bad and may even get worse if we remain apathetic.

Most noticeable in this connection is the manner of treating and looking at prominent and notorious people suspected of involvement in the on-going war on drugs and other forms of criminality. Government authorities seem to consider them as Very Important People (VIPs) who deserve more attention, care and protection. This is very evident in the recent arrest of Ronnie Dayan, the alleged lover and bagman of Senator Leila de Lima. If he is just one of those poor and lowly citizens suspected of involvement in prohibited drugs, he may already be dead by now for hiding, running and resisting arrest. The care, concern and patience of the arresting officers in getting him alive, even allowing his wife and other relatives to reach him first, registered in the minds of the public the highly contrasting manner in arresting suspected addicts and users of drugs in slum areas, many whom are summarily killed by the arresting officers while running away and despite the pleas for mercy by their close relatives.

This highly contrasting manner of arresting a prominent suspect like Dayan indubitably gives rise to the impression that his life is more precious than that of the poor and the unknown. Even notorious drug lords like Peter Co, Peter Lim, Rolando Espinosa and his son Kerwin are afforded better right to due process of law. They are arrested and incarcerated first for filing of the necessary charges and for trial, although some of them are also killed later on under highly suspicious circumstances. This is graphically seen in the case of the late Mayor and suspected drug lord Rolando Espinosa who was shot inside his cell.

More repugnant in this connection is that aside from a few drug lords, other well known public enemies and transgressors of our laws even enjoyed special treatment through an audience with the President in Malacanang Palace. This is best exemplified by rebel MNLF leader Nur Misuari who is undeniably involved in the Zamboanga Massacre that killed hundreds of people. These somewhat scandalous and apparently irregular scenes taking place in our country now convey a message that somehow it is more advantageous for someone to commit a more heinous and serious crime in this country.

It is likewise quite disgusting to see how notorious suspects are being lionized and pictured as celebrities. Ronnie Dayan and Kerwin Espinosa are classic examples here. The VIP treatment they received from the police after their arrests is definitely uncalled for. They were received by no less than PNP Chief Bato Dela Rosa himself who presented them to the media and took up the cudgels of answering questions directly addressed to them. Then they were brought to Congress where they were given the same special treatment. They even made a big thing about Dayan’s accommodation and the toilet he should use.

Then the investigation conducted by Congress supposedly in aid of legislation mainly turned out to be useless and unnecessary because it is not in aid of legislation at all. The questions propounded and the answers given are no different from the written questions and answers already contained in an affidavit executed by the suspects before the police. It appears to be a scripted proceeding intended for showing on TV. Those witnessing the proceedings cannot help but conclude that the investigation is just for show so that our legislators will gain more media mileage. And in the process even respondents Dayan and Kerwin Espinosa have become very popular.

To be sure, such kind of spectacular treatment given to notorious suspects is nothing new. In the past, other notorious people who were even subsequently convicted have also been lionized and pictured as some sort of “heroes.” Indeed even their life stories may be depicted in movies similar to the life stories of “Asiong Salonga” and “Nardong Putik” which became blockbuster movies starring actors who later become public officials in our country. Obviously, this long standing practice in our society has set a bad example and has created adverse and damaging consequences especially in politics where our elections have now deteriorated into mere popularity contests rather than contests of the most qualified for the position.

But the more damaging effect especially to our future generation is honoring the late dictator Marcos as a hero by allowing the burial at the LNMB of his alleged corpse which has supposedly been lying in state at Batac, Ilocos Norte for more than 20 years. The family has already agreed in 1992 to bury him in Batac. But they did not comply with such agreement and still waited and tried to work for his interment at the LNMB. The opportune time came when the candidate they supported in the last presidential elections won and gave them the permission to do so. History has already shown that aside from the billions of dollars of unexplained wealth he had amassed while in office, so many killings, tortures, unexplained disappearances and other human rights violations were committed when he imposed martial law. In fact his oppressive and rapacious regime triggered the non-violent people power EDSA revolution of 1986.

Obviously, Marcos is no hero and does not deserve to be buried at the LNMB which are reserved for heroes. The stealthy way they buried his corpse all the more ignited the people’s indignation. It will not end the controversy. They should have waited for the finality of the Supreme Court decision before doing so since they themselves say that it is almost impossible for the SC to reverse itself. Confusing the issue here will not also quell the current unrest happening all over the country. The issue here is not to forgive and forget Marcos and his sins but whether he should be honored as a hero.

Lastly it bears stressing that all these damaging events are pointed out not for purposes of bringing about Duterte’s downfall. His diehard supporters should look at them as one way to help him. In this connection, may I also remind them that it will not help Duterte at all if they admire and applaud him all the way especially if he repeatedly utters and throws expletives and cuss words at other people; or if he does not stop being belligerent and mad at his critics.