Pinoys in a ‘democrazy’
Plunderers have never had it so good in this country. Just as we thought there was at last a good example of what the rule of law meant with the conviction of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, the first big fish to be convicted of plunder, he got pardoned unconditionally by then President Gloria Arroyo who herself is now facing plunder charges! Speaking of “honor among thieves”!
Estrada moved on to run again for president and almost won, were it not for a nation still in mourning over the death of former president Cory Aquino, which catapulted her son, the once inept Sen. Benigno Aquino III, to unprecedented popularity and subsequently to the presidency. Never losing his “touch,” Estrada later won as mayor of Manila hands down and is now poised to secure another term.
The March 27 Inquirer banner story titled “GMA, Imee lead unopposed bets,” spoke of Arroyo and the eldest daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos as sure winners in the next local elections in Pampanga and Ilocos Norte, respectively. And lest we miss him, Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong), too, seems on his way to becoming “number two” (vice president)! The Marcos family is said to have started the “trending” of plunder in this country, having supposedly amassed ill-gotten wealth and treasures that could put Nebuchadnezzar to shame!
Also very prominently embroiled in massive plunder indictments is presidential candidate Jejomar Binay who is likely to beat all his rivals in the current race to Malacañang. Like Estrada, Arroyo and the Marcoses, he is said to have very deep and bulging pockets. That is the kind of money that can buy elections and much more.
Do Filipinos really care about being constantly ripped off by crooks? Judging from the hopeless kababawan of the vast majority of our people more obsessed with “AlDub” than showing concern for the bleak future of this country, it does seem clear that serious issues hardly mean anything to them. Well, we surely are in a “democrazy.”
—MARGIE MEGAN LIBRANDO, [email protected]
