THE SURFACING of Janet Napoles has, at the most superficial level, given the slightest glint of hope in the quest for justice in this pork barrel scam.
Though Napoles is in custody, she remains inscrutable for her role in the corruption of P10 billion. In this case, she may as well still be in hiding.
The Aquino government has taken advantage of the situation and announced how they have proceeded in the surrender of Napoles. They say that they have given her protection, but with no special treatment. However, in the recent announcements by Lacierda, it is evident that the president is taking special steps.
Napoles could have been directly sent to the NBI, who has jurisdiction over the case, but she was given a sanctuary away from the press and public in Camp Crame. Furthermore, Aquino has not shown steps to prosecute Napoles regarding her theft of public funds. This is evident as the charge filed against Napoles remains at illegal detention of her employees, not mastermind of corruption.
We therefore ask: Is the Aquino administration sincere in its claim that it will resolve this issue by punishing the guilty? Or is Aquino, who holds the greatest share of the pork barrel, aiming to distract the issue from himself and trying to lessen the anger of the Filipino people by bringing Napoles to them.
Clearly, the administration’s position is vague. In this case, the Filipino people have nothing to be happy about Napoles surrendering. Napoles has only placed herself under the protection of the highest official in the land, the same person who holds the greatest pork barrel allocation.
We call on the people to be even more vigilant in monitoring this issue. We call them to see beyond the news and find the Aquino administration flexing its muscles in yet another desperate attempt to maintain itself in power.
The Napoles scam has shown the bureaucrat-capitalist nature of Philippine politics: politicians are driven to run for office not in their wish to serve, but for the opportunities for economic gains. But the Filipino people are not mute, nor are they less equipped against Aquino and his rotting rule. The united force of the people, with a higher consciousness that drives concrete action, will tip the odds in the current situation to true reform in our country. Let this be an opportunity to change our system.
Marvin Doods S. de Castro
Bayan Southern Mindanao
bayan.smr.2012@gmail.com
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