Pork senators should be ostracized by colleagues

If what happened to the three senators happened to three honorable Japanese legislators, they would be dead by now—death by hara-kiri.

Of course, we do not expect the three senators to commit hara-kiri because such act is done only by honorable persons. But if the three have even a tiny bit of shame in them, they would be ashamed to face the other senators and the public during official sessions. But of course they will not resign because not even a bit of shame is left in them.

So what should the other senators do? The senators of the same party as the three will surely defend the three because they are also completely shameless as the three. But among the senators allied with President Aquino, it is very possible that some of them have enough shame to be qualified as honorable, although of the lowest quality. Those senators should convince their party-mate senators to adopt this strategy: To speak to the three only during official sessions. But before sessions, during recess within sessions, and after sessions, no one among them should speak with the three. And if any of the three will speak to them, they should not answer but turn away and leave.

In some countries, citizens publicly insult known corrupt government officials. But Filipinos will never do that because we are a very gentle and gracious people. We do not cause any person to lose face especially in public. That’s why when we are angry with anybody, we just give them the silent treatment. And that is what Filipino citizens should do to the three senators.

And when this happens, the three will be very sad, very lonely and very sick. Good for them. This is karma in action as Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo always says.

And the Filipino people will be very thankful that there are still some honorable senators ready to fight corruption, the cause of our national poverty.

Mabuhay and Pilipinas!

—JOSE MANGAHAS,

Quezon City