Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in his privilege speech in the Senate last June 9, expressed his sentiments particularly against President Aquino, accusing him of governing with hate rather than with love, and being driven by partisanship rather than by the spirit of unity. Revilla even gave the President some advice on what problems of our country the latter should prioritize. He spoke of the poor whose needs the President should be attending to, instead.
Nice speech all right, that is, if he is indeed not guilty of the plunder charge against him, meaning, if indeed he did not receive and pocket millions of pesos in kickbacks from the Priority Development Assistance Fund allotted to him.
After the speech, Revilla, together with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada who are also accused of plunder, was seen all smiles, all three giving each other a hug, bantering among themselves. They looked cool and seemingly not a bit
worried of the then to-be-issued warrants for their arrest.
I could not help but feel sorry for the three senators, more so at the thought that they could be found guilty as charged. Enrile made his mark as one of the heroes of Edsa 1. Revilla will always be the movie hero who fought against evil and so is Estrada who was the hoodlums’ nemesis. To be sure, it will be a big letdown for their fans and supporters who have looked up to them as their idols for years. But justice must prevail if only to serve as warnings and lessons for others.
The outrage against the accused and others involved in the PDAF scam is understandable. However, lest we forget, the Bible tells us to hate the sin but not the sinner. Perhaps, we also need to pray more for our leaders who have been linked to the scam or to other forms of corruption, so that they may be enlightened by God’s grace and see the emptiness of riches ill-gained and how these separate them from Him who is the source of true wealth.
—THERESA PILI-NISPEROS,
Juan Luna Street,
Tondo, Manila