After Erap, Who's Next?

Surely Joseph Estrada is not the worst of our public officials. He is getting overwhelming support and sympathy not only from the general public, but even from his J'accusers like former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, and the present Senate President Manny Villar who headed Erap's Genuine Opposition ticket in last May's election. This extraordinary paradox may be difficult for many foreign observers to understand until one takes two outstanding factors into account:

(1) It is now widely recognized that Joseph Estrada was sure of acquittal in his Impeachment Trial when was illegally and unconstitutionally deposed by then Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., acting in conspiracy with then Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, Jaime Cardinal Sin and then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the infamous Edsa Dos Coup d'etat.

(2) The regime that replaced Erap turned out to be a far more corrupt, repressive, non-transparent and I would even say, hated administration than Erap's was, if that can even be imagined. But starting almost immediately after they took office, President Arroyo and her allies were immediately embroiled in a whole series of scandals and anomalous dealings that have not yet been properly investigated, prosecuted and punished.

Readers may google any of the following search terms to get an idea of the vast quagmire of corruption and malfeasance that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her diehard allies must surely be brought before the Bar of Justice for:

Jose Pidal unexplained wealth
Nani Perez, IMPSA bribery scandal
Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard
NAIA-3
Impeachment of Hilario Davide
Venable Contract Norberto Gonzales EO 464
Oakwood Mutiny
JocJoc Bolante fertilizer scam
Comelec Automated Counting Machine scandal
2004 elections Philippines
Maguindanao Zubiri Pimentel Bedol
Hello Garci Wiretapping and Electoral Rigging Case
Kidnapping Vidal Doble Family Medy Poblador
Extrajudicial Killings
ZTE National Broadband Network Deal
Basilan Beheadings Abu Sayyaf and MILF Peace Talks

I'm pretty sure I've left out a number of others, but these are just off the top of my head. Readers may remind me of any I've missed in the Comment thread.

And if I may point out a FUTURE bit of criminal wrongdoing that GMA and her "peace talk advisers" are about to commit, it is the business of a Muslim Juridical Entity that I think represents a towering crime against not only the Filipino people but the entire Global War on Terror. Before it, the other crimes actually pale in comparison, for this will set in motion what I believe could be decades if not another century of bloodshed and strife in Mindanao and the entire Southeast Asian region.

There are of course varying opinions as to the degree of culpability that the President and her administration may have in one or more of the matters I've listed above. But if one examines the towering crimes there involved, in even one of the above cases, there is already as much there I would say as anything former President Estrada may have engaged in.

Contrary to the claims of many, the Filipino People are not stupid. They love Democracy as many recent surveys have shown. They are a loving and forgiving people (some say too much so). A Day of Reckoning is coming. Men may be unjust, but God is just, and eventually Justice and Truth will prevail. One thing I rejoice in, from my knowledge and observation of our EVOLUTION as a nation and a people, is that Filipinos are learning how to use the rule of Law and the power of Justice as the motive force of a democratic society. The 2007 midterm election results prove that.

I am confident that in the end, WE SHALL OVERCOME. Someday. We shall overcome!