REMEMBER Vicente "Enteng" Romano III? He of eLagda.com fame whose quixotic effort to solicit a million signatures to pressure then Pres. Joseph Estrada to step down failed to muster enough numbers, but which spawned about 25,000 e-mandirigmas (cyberwarriors) that waged an email, fax and SMS letter-writing campaign targeted at the senator-judges during Estrada's impeachment trial. He was recently moved to write this letter to members of the Kompil 2 mailing list, puzzled over the list's "deafening silence" in the face of the raging issue of the supposed taped conversations involving Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
A Wake-up Call for Civil SocietyI am amazed at the deafening silence of this forum on the raging issue of the wiretapped tapes.
I remember, not too long ago, how members of this forum mostly, convenors and supporters of Kompil 2, denounced with zeal and passion the excesses of the Estrada government.
We tolerated his womanizing, his drinking sprees, his gambling, even his gross incompetence at governance. But when he transformed the Palace into his personal fiefdom where he routinely received his cabals of thugs, pimps, and gambling lords — it offended our sensibilities. And when the impeachment trial began to expose the extent of the thievery and plunder of Erap's regime — we stood up and declared once again, " tama na!, sobra na!"
Today, there is hint of thievery on a different plane. GMA may not be accused of robbing the national coffers; but there are allegations that she stole some ballots and in the process robbed the people of the leader of its choice, no matter how objectionable that rightful leader may be to some sectors.
Yet, we do not see any hint of outrage, not even pretensions of disdain, from this motley group who claim to have stood for what is right and moral at EDSA 1 & 2.
Why?
Some say it's "people-power fatigue". Two untimely "regime change" merely transferred the reign of government from one political camp to the other. Nothing really changed. And ousting GMA now through people power will only return control to the Erap-Marcos forces — not exactly an exciting prospect for most of us.
I think a better explanation is our fear of the incompetent reigning. During the elections, we turned a blind eye to the blatant misuse of national funds for GMA's campaign, thinly disguised as public service ads by major agencies of government. We reasoned:
It was a minor transgression needed to save us from the terror of a bumbling FPJ presidency. Besides, it was technically within the law, although hardly within the bounds of decency and ethics.
Today, we extend the same line of reasoning to our present situation: it's just a minor case of indiscretion we can and we must let go, lest this all leads to a transfer of power to a blundering Noli de Castro. Besides, the technicality of the law will make this issue moot in the halls of congress or in a court of law.
On top of all these, many in civil society — especially those who are now in GMA's camp, believe, or even espouse, that GMA is the best president this country could ever have. And there is no one in the horizon, within the opposition or administration camp, who comes even close to her in terms of competence, dedication, and implementation of programs. I believe they do so out of a sincere conviction based on seeing how GMA works up close.
I'm afraid there is a grain of truth in this. Looking at the personalities now in the frontlines of fueling this scandal, one can only shudder at the thought of who our next leaders would be if we succeed in ousting GMA today. It's enough to dampen our spirits and abandon any effort to right what is wrong.
But then again, we have to ask ourselves:
- even if it cannot be proven in a court of law?
- even if it did not alter the final results of the elections, as some administration officials claim?
- Should the lack of a viable alternative to GMA paralyze us into inaction?
- Should we abdicate our role as guardians of morality in government and let GMA's opposition drive their agenda, by default?
If we search our conscience hard enough, the answers to these questions will be a resounding NO.
No, we cannot keep quiet in the light of these grave allegations, even if we believe the alternative is worse than the status quo, and even when we are convinced that GMA can yet do great things for this country. To do so means we are willing to condone wrongdoing, for as long as it serves our higher interests. If it comes to this, then we are not much different from traditional politicians. And we might as well relinquish any claim to a moral high ground.
I believe it's time for civil society to once again rise and fight for what is right and moral. It may not be time, or even prove to be necessary, to ask GMA to resign. But I believe it's time to ask her to speak out and tell us the truth about the tapes.
To those of you who have the ears of GMA, I plead that you assert your influence to make her confront the issue squarely — to deny or acknowledge that the voice on the tape is hers or not, and to explain truthfully the circumstances behind the tapes. And please convince her to do it now, and not later — before the tide of discontent forces her hand. The people are less interested in knowing who are responsible for the illegal wiretapping than they are in the truth about the contents of the tape.
To the rest of us, I appeal that we now openly declare our positions on this issue — on the streets, on the internet, and other media. Let us join hands in demanding GMA to speak out and tell us the truth NOW!
Maybe it's even time to consider convening Kompil 3 — if only to demand GMA to tell us the truth, and nothing but the truth. The people deserve nothing less.
At the very least, maybe it's time to bring back life to this forum, to hear the voice of indignation resonate once again, condemning wrongdoing of any form, no matter what the consequences.
It's time to speak out and be counted.
God bless and God save our country.
Enteng
e-Mandirigma
