Notwithstanding the devastation and very tragic loss of lives brought about by Tropical Storm “Sendong,” the informal surveys being made by television and radio stations show that the majority of Filipinos are optimistic about the coming year.
From where I sit, the optimism is borne out of the realization that after the corruption and scandal-tainted decade-long rule of the Arroyos, we finally have someone in Malacañang who is not just not corrupt but who is also fighting corruption hammer and tongs.
I am, of course, referring, to our straight-shooting and no-nonsense President Aquino. In P-Noy, we have a leader who walks the talk.
There is electric hope in the air that the ends of justice will be served with the trial of former President Gloria Arroyo for electoral sabotage and plunder, as well as the unraveling of the many shenanigans that had marked her crooked administration, including her family’s sale to the Philippine National Police of used choppers as brand-new units.
There is also much anticipation that Arroyo’s midnight appointee as chief justice, Renato Corona, will be removed from office by the Senate for betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption.
The trial of Arroyo and the impeachment proceedings against Corona are sending P-Noy’s message loud and clear: that if you are corrupt, that if you dip your fingers into the public coffers and if you abuse governmental powers, you would be made accountable.
Corruption, whether petty or amounting to plunder, is a national malady which robs the people of funds that should be allocated for public services like education and health care. As such, our people are one behind P-Noy in fighting corruption—to pave the way for real progress and prosperity.
—MA. CYNTHIA BALDOMERO,
cynthia_baldomero@yahoo.com