Governance by drama

The political maturity of the Philippines, as a collective, seems to appreciate drama more than the principles of law and governance. I recognize that there are exceptions, but among a population of 115 million, how many exceptions can truly overturn the majority? As long as we remain in our current political system, where the majority of votes—regardless of whether they are ill-gotten or miscounted, as declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)—prevail, the majority wins.

There have been instances where extrajudicial means were employed by advocates, subsequently supported by the acquiescence or acclaim of the majority, first in 1986 and again in 2001. It could certainly happen again; however, changing times demand new circumstances before a people-powered revolution can effectively remove a government’s leadership and install a new one. I’m uncertain what kind of circumstances those would be, but we will recognize them when the moment approaches.

In the meantime, let us observe the drama of Philippine politics. Most of us will be mere onlookers, but we can try to enjoy the unfolding events, nonetheless. Perhaps we can even learn from them.

This week has been particularly busy. Just imagine the drama surrounding POGO and Quiboloy occurring in the same week as the OVP budget hearing controversy. We can hardly keep up with the news before new developments arise, and we know that many more will entertain us in the weeks to come. In fact, at the current pace, the remainder of 2024 promises to be quite an exciting one.

Exciting does not mean fun. There will be pain and turmoil as well. We are a people who can least afford the fallout of partisan politics and criminal syndicates. The drama may stay on the screen for a short time, but it will soon infiltrate our daily lives. As the extent of crime gradually unfolds, we will come to realize how it has seeped into the very fabric of community life. After all, someone lies, someone steals, someone kills, and all these actions impact us.

Some dynamics of the budgeting process in government were unexpectedly thrown into the public arena. Vice President Sara must have felt obligated to defend her behavior during the budget hearings and the accusations that she did not fulfill her responsibilities as Secretary of the Department of Education, particularly regarding the building of classrooms. In response, she made accusations of her own directed at the Speaker of the House. Now, the public has some understanding of how our money is allocated and spent, and what we see is rather disturbing.

We do not even have to take sides because there seems to be no right side, no clean side. Whatever our leaders do dictates the tenor and tempo of society. The penetration of criminal syndicates, as evidenced by the POGO drama, into various government agencies can only mean that there are protectors of criminal activities in higher authorities. Just as the government budget can be manipulated for political and corrupt purposes, the operations of government can also be manipulated to favor criminals and their activities.

It is as though the dirty innards of government are being exposed to the public by the culprits themselves. It has not been merely investigative work; instead, one gang of felons point to another and reveals the abuses that we could smell but hardly see. And, of course, the most important aspect is that some senators and members of the House of Representatives have found the will and passion to pursue the leads. Now we see, if not everything, we see enough to better imagine the rest.

We are now witnessing the beginning of a purgation, which means the purification or cleansing of someone or something. Whether many realize it or not, we are in the process of baring our collective souls, exposing not only to ourselves but also to the watchful world the kind of cesspool we have allowed to infiltrate the noble culture that our forefathers left us. We need not go to the streets and protest; we only need to ask ourselves if this is what we want for ourselves and our children.

I have read in many social media posts a once unspoken truth – the idea of choosing between the lesser evil. I am heartened to note that many are not drawn into partisan feuds or political wars, as it appears that there are no good choices, only two bad ones. I know that even more Filipinos will come to this realization as the circus and the clowns continue to expose more rot each day. We seek hope, inspiration, and a vision – yet none of that beauty is present for now.

Again, I will return to my familiar refrain, a thought I strive to include in every article I write. Many may not know it, many may not admit it, and many may be afraid of it, but the simple truth remains: our fate lies in our own hands. Because we are a people, a country, and are striving to be a nation, our fate rests in each person’s hands and in our togetherness. We are not carabaos, despite the scarcity experienced by the ordinary and the poor among us; we are still human beings endowed with intelligence and dignity—both of which we often sacrifice for mere loaves of bread or pieces of silver.

It is natural to point out wrongdoing and wrongdoers when we see them and feel the painful consequences of their actions. However, as we point at them, we should also take responsibility for solving our own problems instead of relying on others to do so. By continuing to shift the blame, we only allow these issues to fester, ultimately leading to more problems.

A moment will come when we must look in the mirror and confront who we are and what we have become. I hope we will ultimately be pleased with what we see reflected back at us.