President Rodrigo Duterte cannot absolve Ilocos Sur Governor Imelda “Imee” Marcos and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. as sinless because they have been for a long time and until now culpable beneficiaries of the ill-gotten hoard of their father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Although they were teenagers when martial law was declared in September 1972, they attained the age of majority shortly after the proclamation of martial law and they were already adults during the height of the martial law regime.
Instead of creating a commission to investigate the Ombudsman, President Rodrigo Duterte must establish an independent commission to investigate the unabated extrajudicial killings consequent to his bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
The constitutionally-guaranteed independence of the Office of the Ombudsman will be imperiled by any investigation, much more a partisan inquiry, exerting interference and pressure on the Ombudsman.
The purported investigation of the Ombudsman is perceived as vindictiveness and reprisal against the Ombudsman for authorizing an inquiry into the supposed unexplained wealth of the President and his family.
Forced out of sight, but not out of mind and heart. The bad word here is “forced,” but that act of cruelty cannot dim the resolve of families to find their loved ones who were forcibly made to disappear by state forces several decades ago. Nothing deters them. Not power and might, not time and distance.
We are still in remember-September mode, bringing to mind how 45 years ago in September the Marcos dictatorship laid waste to our liberties, snuffed out lives, seized people and properties, and ushered in the Philippines’ 14 years in the grip of an iron hand.
The book “Beyond Disappearance: Chronicles of Courage” is at the heart of Filipinos’ experience of martial law and tyranny. Published by FIND (Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances) with the help of the Embassy of Finland, the book came out years ago without much fanfare, and thus not many knew about it. But it can hold its own beside other books about that dark era.
Lately, Edcel Lagman seems to be saying everything we’ve been thinking. Albay’s 1st district representative has called out Rudy Fariñas for suggesting that congressmen be given immunity from minor traffic violations, explaining that it sends the wrong message to the people.
Before that, he voted against the proposal to cut the Commission on Human Rights’ budget to P1,000, and implored the small committee of the House of Representatives to restore it to P649.48 million (thankfully, the House has done so after a meeting with CHR Chair Chito Gascon). The Tindig Pilipinas member has also been a vocal critic of Duterte’s drug war, foreign policy, and decision to declare martial law in Mindanao.
The leadership of a political movement in a democracy hews along the dictates of hierarchy. The structure defines the leadership, even the leadership of the political opposition (such as the opposition we have now) that is at best marginal and overwhelmed by the forces of government in power. According to the natural order of things, the leadership of the current opposition to Mr. Duterte belongs to Vice President Leni Robredo, Mr. Aquino and Mr. Roxas, the triumvirate that are on top of the opposition’s hierarchy.
VP Robredo is the official with the highest political post among them – the Number 2 post in the country. Mr. Aquino is a former president. Mr. Roxas was the presidential candidate in the 2016 elections and Mr. Aquino’s co-president from 2010 to April 2016. But they are not leading.
Ms. Robredo appears timid and oftentimes clueless on how to react to the events of the hour. She is more worried about her low trust and appreciation ratings than being able to stand for what she believes is right and just. Somebody should tell her that nobody has adopted meandering as the surest route to the presidency. Filipinos, and this is true, abhor politicians who always talk as if the country would crack up the next day. But they have less respect for timidity, which is Ms. Robredo’s stock in trade.
