Gary Alejano: Another Trillanes in the Senate?

We are living in a time of alternative truths and facts played under subjective understanding, and to be frank, the last thing we need right now is gossip.

However, Congressman Gary Alejano thinks otherwise.

Over the weekend, the Magdalo representative stated in interviews that the Duterte administration has already ordered the AFP to stop patrolling the West Philippine Sea. Along with this dubious yet at the same time controversial statement, he asked rhetorically if that can be considered an impeachable offense, in the effort to smear the President’s name before the public. His claims, however, were immediately shot down by the AFP, with spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo saying that this is a “malicious imputation” on the President.

But rather than take a step back and rethink his statements, Alejano further fanned the flames by saying that the “Philippines can go to war with China,” which he later called out to be a statement taken out of context.

His statements, taken out of context as he claims or not, are already a clear indication that Alejano is doing nothing but playing a chatterbox to disrupt the confidence Filipinos have for the President. I find it disturbing that as early as now, he is grandstanding his way to be noticed, and it is all because he plans to run for Senate next year.

I do understand the side of those who do not agree with the “soft” stance of President Durterte’s administration regarding patrolling the West Philippine Sea, and Alejano is one of them. But Alejano might have forgotten about this term called “diplomacy,” which is being exercised at the moment.

It saddens me as well, for Gary Alejano was someone we looked up to.

While a well-known critic of the President, he used to have sound criticisms that the Administration took into careful consideration, because despite being on the opposite sides of history, Alejano also shared the same fervor of leading the country to a better future. It was only when he started getting support to run for Senate did he begin showing his true shade, which was probably yellow.

Another thing that bothers me is when Alejano stressed the need for strong institutions to improve peace in the country, as according to a recent study of Global Peace Index 2018, the Philippines ranks the second least peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific, next to North Korea.

Strong institutions call for unity and cooperation of the state and civil society, including the church, academe and the media. But how can we exactly do this when these very institutions turn against each other with rumors and lies? And how can we do this when the people we have elected into office are also the same ones spreading rumors and lies?

It worries me a lot because Alejano has not only been spreading information that cannot be verified (all because he refuses to identify his sources), but are at the same time spreading them in sensational fashion. His retraction of statements about going to war with China also incites further damage, as it not only reflects a weak personality, but rather a weak image of the party he is representing in Congress. Yet despite these, Alejano intends to run for Senate. But we already have someone doing practically the same things in the Senate.

And honestly, we do not need another one. Not another Trillanes. And certainly not a poor imitation like Gary Alejano.