We are sad. Yes we are with the outcome of the Olympic journey of one of our remaining hopes to garner more medals for the country in the soon to end quadrennial games.
Pole Vaulter John Obiena finally bowed out yesterday from competition. He ranked No. 4 only. But the Filipinos’ congratulations to the only entry in the Pole Vault are still in order. And Obiena is very much deserving of the accolade. Imagine how he waded through a mass of competitors in the event all known to be the aces of the game in their country!
Now the country’s hope for gold are in the performances of female boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. But weightlifter Vanessa Sarno could possibly pull a surprise. As they say, “Hope springs eternal.”
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It is really hard to imagine how far fights in political battles in the Philippines have evolved. Decades back the Filipino voters found satisfaction in aiding them make their final choices of candidates to vote through attractive posters, billboards, dexterity in delivering speeches during rallies, broadcast and print commentaries of partisan media men supporters and “paid hacks,” the depth and contents of the politician’s and his/her party’s pockets, and of course the raw guts of the politicians and their party to utilize goons and guns.
In today’s politics, the protagonists have already shifted to another more effective battle grounds and armor – the various platforms of the social media. The politicians’ ”soldiers” are the trolls that they and their groups have nurtured in their “farms” using resources they have accumulated over the years in public service.
Their modern armaments are the often insidiously scripted vlogs that picture the primary political personalities in whatever image their benefactors want him or her portrayed. And still using the social media platform the protagonists are also now utilizing the so-called “battle of official statements.”
Recently another dimension was added. While it is not directly done within the ambit of the political “war” between the groups of former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., still the link to the ongoing squabble is clearly distinguishable.
We are referring to a newly minted “political war materiel,” the battle of reward money. Yes, where in the world that this is happening but only in the Philippines.
When the law enforcers failed to arrest Rev. Pastor Apollo C. Qujiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church (KJCC) months since arrest warrants were issued by the Courts against the religious leader for charges that includes one that a respondent is not allowed to post bail.
The failure of the law enforcers to bring Quiboloy to the court resulted to the decision of some unknown personalities to donate to the government a P10 million reward money to whoever could lead to the arrest of the fugitive pastor.
Claiming that the acceptance by the government of a donation from private individuals or groups for it to have any of its instrumentalities ably execute the duties demanded of them is against the law, the camp of the Pastor in hiding has doubled the reward money from the government. The announcement is carried in posters scattered all over Davao City and possibly in other strategic areas in Mindanao and the entire country. According to the posters the KJCC will give a P20 million reward money to whoever can provide the Pastor’s camp the identity of the donor of the P10 million to the government for the Pastor’s arrest.
Well, it seems there is a continuing flow of money to the coffers of the religious sect from seemingly endless sources – the fanatical believers of the Pastor.
Earlier in his days of hiding the Pastor told the government that he was willing to surrender. But he set several conditions to the government foremost of which was for the Marcos, Jr.’s administration not to turn him over to the United States government where he is also facing some charges.
Again, where in the world do we know of cases where persons facing charges of crimes committed just simply dodge the law ignoring a working justice system? Where in the world that a fugitive is the one setting conditions for his surrender instead of getting offered some concessions for him or her to give up?
And where in the world that an accused can freely flaunt humongous resources at their disposal by offering to double the reward from government for the identity of the private fund donor? Is it not a blatant mockery of the Philippines’ justice system and a glaring insult to the government and to those tasked to implement the laws of the land?
God help the Philippines.
