Alleba Politics

I would like to address this to those in the military and PNP who entertain violent or nonviolent extra-constitutional means for a change in leadership. Please give this careful thought and consideration. We as a country and people are not prepared for this.

I also address this to my fellow Filipinos who are tired and frustrated with the current situation.

I personally believe that GMA is the worst leader this country has had so far. Her own corruption, along with her acceptance of the corruption of her husband and relatives, is no different from the corruption of Marcos, FVR, and Estrada. For Marcos, the staggering amount of sequestered cash, accounts, jewelry, and properties, showed us the magnitude of his greed. Cory was an honest president. However, her hesitation to condemn/stop the corruption of her immediate relatives was seen by others as a welcome sign, saying “come join the government and make your fortune.” Ramos comes next to GMA as our country’s worst leader. He used the media to show the country how “good” we were doing. In reality, we were doing quite badly. The world economy then, with the USA in particular, was performing well as it recovered from mid-90’s financial crisis. Hot money was flowing to this part of the world. It was allocated to Thailand, China, Malaysia, Hongkong, Indonesia, and, lastly, the Philippines. We had the smallest allocation. We were last and got the latak. If you look closer then at the economic growth that FVR was bragging about, we may have had positive figures but we were actually the worst performing country in Southeast Asia. Today, even Vietnam is ahead of us in growth. It was during FVR’s time that I first heard of corruption in the billions for single incidents. NAIA3/PIATCO, PEA/AMARI, Clark Centennial project, NPC/IPP anomalies, these were all started during FVR’s term. Now, they are still existing problem projects, though he made his money already. He privatized a lot of government assets and got his percentage. This percentage, to his mind, was not corruption. What I know is, he was elected as president by the Filipino people and paid as president. Therefore that money belonged to the country. He was selling Philippine assets. Ask people who knew about his shenanigans. It was under FVR that a surrogate/mistress first lady was given presidential security guards. This practice was something Estrada merely continued. FVR and Estrada had the same womanizing values and corrupt way of life. Public service was their way to enrich themselves. FVR was just the smarter one, whose corruption was of a grander magnitude but so cleverly hidden.

GMA, in terms of corruption, was the same as FVR. What makes her worse was that, to remain in power and perpetuate herself, she would lie and make promises. She wheels and deals with jueteng lords, drug lords, politicians, and the military and PNP hierarchy. She ridiculed and manipulated the Law of the country. She kept herself, her family, and selected cronies above and exempted from the Law of our country. Garcilliano and Joc Joc Bolante now laugh and look down on the Filipino people. They can brag about how smart they were to get away with their schemes. GMA would deal with the devil himself, offering our country just to remain in power.

My fellow Filipinos, whether you are a common citizen or a member of the military and PNP, we all have the same negative views of our country’s leadership. We are all frustrated. However, I seriously believe that we are not prepared for another extra-constitutional change in leadership. The country’s condition will probably just get even worse. The fact is we do not have a sufficient alternative to replace the GMA administration. We might end up with a leadership that is even more corrupt and inept. Or my greater fear is that it will splinter and destroy our Philippines.

Marcos was the Philippines’ nightmare for 20 long years. God/Allah, gave us the chance to prove ourselves capable by allowing EDSA 1 and 2. We were given these 20 years and yet we have failed. As a people, as a nation, we have failed.

I was there for EDSA 1 and 2, with the courage and enthusiasm to support the change in leadership. There was no EDSA 3. If there was, I would not have gone out to support it.

These are my thoughts then:

1) EDSA 1 produced the results I already mentioned. Cory is a good person but lacked the will to apply the law to her relatives. Corruption took hold within the administration, congress, judiciary, and local governments. FVR took over and we were left with a corrupt leader and the same corrupt government. He legitimized womanizing and made it acceptable in government. Our values deteriorated. Estrada merely continued FVR’s legacy.

2) With EDSA 2, hopes were again raised but disappointment soon followed. Politicians merely changed parties and continued their plunder of the country’s budget. Now we have a first family just as greedy and entrenched in the corruption. The corrupt officials, who were supposed to be removed by EDSA 2, merely became the opposition. There is no way I would respect these individuals to lead the government again.

3) The military/PNP leadership is also plagued by people just as corrupt and possessing the same womanizing values. Look at Gen. Garcia’s case. The amounts in the hundreds of millions were shocking. There is still no conviction with the appropriate penalty. The magnitude of that crime is equivalent to plunder and the law prescribes death as a maximum penalty. There are also several sectors of the military that are guilty of civilian atrocities.

4) In terms of civil society and NGO’s, time has proven that their leaders also had their own selfish agenda. The sector was weakened as it fell prey to corruption and politics. Dinky Soliman’s mea culpa is an example. It was too little, too late.

5) Who will step up and lead with the complete trust and confidence of the Filipino people?

I started thinking then: is this is a question of leadership or a question of our people’s values? Within the government, in the military/PNP, and among the citizens, I know we still have a lot of good people. Why are they silent? Why are they not making their good values and voices heard? Why are they not testifying? Are we waiting for a HERO?

I am just as guilty as most Filipinos. I was waiting for a hero. I wanted a quick solution to solve our problems but I was not willing to get involved. I was scared to come out and risk the uncertainty. There is no quick, easy, and painless solution. This solution involves me. It involves all of us. It will have to involve the Filipino people and it will take time.

I will start by being brave enough to wear a ribbon with our flag’s colors: blue, white, yellow, and red. I will wear it on me at all times. I will put it in my vehicles. It will be a sign of personal commitment. I want it to tell and show people, that now I will try to truly follow the law. I want to be a proud Filipino. If I see someone breaking the law, no matter how trivial, I will remind them that the law is both for you and me. If you see me breaking the law, remind me of my commitment. The ribbons will be a way to remind and force me to honor my commitment. A good Filipino named Alexander Ledesma Lacson outlined it so well in his book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country.” I will try and follow these.

I am an individual Filipino. I have no political ambitions. I just want a country at peace. A country whose leadership in reality serves the people, and not the other way around. I look forward to a country whose leaders don’t go around bragging that they are God’s/Allah’s answer to its problems and that they are the best leader for the country, when in fact hunger and poverty prevail. They cannot even leave the palace or their homes if not surrounded by a sea of bodyguards. I do not want a country whose leader blames all but herself.

I am an individual Filipino. If you are like me and believe in what I write, wear your ribbon of our flag’s colors. It is not illegal for military/PNP or government men and women to wear these ribbons. Pass this letter around. I am sorry but my limitation with the languages does not allow me to communicate in the other dialects. Please help me if you can and translate it into the other dialects and then spread it around the Visayas and Mindanao.

Our government has agencies and organizations; our civil society has numerous movements and organizations as well. There is no need to create more. What is needed are individuals with a commitment to work towards a good Philippines. No big flashy campaign, just something personal and heartfelt. This is not a quick solution. It will take time but it will be peaceful. Besides, we have wasted 40 years already. What we need are individuals who want to leave a good Philippines for their children.

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