Where ‘march’ should be
The pork barrel scam did not come to light on its own. It was exposed because people wisely voted for a good leader who appointed upright people who did their jobs dutifully and courageously. It would thus be the height of irony and malice if some people would now assail President Aquino for speculated abuses and misuse of public funds instead of focusing on bringing to justice those who were implicated by evidence in the scam.
There are three identifiable groups engaged in this sinister exercise, and they all have spurious motives. The first group is the militant Left, committed and dedicated to seizing power by bringing down government by all means and at all costs. The second group is composed of thieving politicians and their supporters who are hoping to survive from the scandal by muddling the issue and bringing everyone down. And the third group is the tainted clergy who cannot find it in their hearts to forgive and reconcile with President Aquino not for any sin he committed but for espousing the matuwid na daan vision that exposed their bankrupt morality.
The well-meaning should be more discerning and reject the attempt of these three groups to hijack the people’s legitimate cause.
With a view to encouraging people who would like to show their support for President Aquino, I would like to share the following suggestions. I am hoping others can add to the list: (1) Put on a symbolic yellow ribbon; (2) Spare time to explain to the least of our countrymen what the issue is all about. It is wrong to think that everyone has the same grasp and understanding of the problem; (3) Actively reject the militant Left by honking or making noise to drive them away when they take over public space meant for all; (4) Always demand balanced reporting from print and broadcast media; (5) Warn the “million people marchers” to fend off those who would like to hijack their cause.
The first Million People March was enough. The next task is not to do more of the same but to hound the implicated and see to it that justice is served. The people should be marching not on Ayala but in front of the public officials’ mansions built with stolen public funds.
—V. FIDEL GUIDOTE,
