I caught a glimpse of how "a celebrated personality" in the Philippines came home from America last night. He's Jocelyn 'Joc-joc" Bolante. A known political ally of the President of the Philippines, he used to hold a government portfolio (in the Department of Agriculture). Thus, in his heyday, he was used to power. And powerful he really was that to his disposal were billions of pesos -- literally and figuratively speaking.
What was the brouhaha all about? Well, we will be led back to 2004 presidential elections in the Philippines. It was one of the dirtiest election the country ever saw. Matching -- if not exceeding -- the callousness of the fraud and deceit that were involved was the election in the 1970's that saw Ferdinand Marcos winning another term prior to his declaration of the Martial Law to start the realization of his dictatorial tendency that made him lead the Filipinos for more or less twenty (20) years.
We go back to the 2004 elections so as we are able to put things into proper perspective. After the elections, several transpirations were brought to the fore. First, there was a recorded telephone conversation between the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo -- or, if take the claim of Arroyo as truthful then it's a voice that is similar to the President's -- and a Commissioner of the Commission of the Elections with the former telling the latter that he must ensure at least a margin of million of votes in a particular election district in Southern Philippines to ensure of course her victory. Then, a fertilizer fund scam was later unearthed too. In this case, Bolante is said to be involved. For it was he who handed out more than seven hundred million pesos to the political allies of Arroyo accordingly as aid to the farmers in the form of fertilizer grants. The investigations that ensued -- at least the Senate investation -- began with leaders of national federations of farmers testifying that not one farmer actually benefitted from the supposedly fund grants from the government. It later found out that the fertilizers were not only overpriced; these were likewise not for palay or corn, but for orchids! To top it all, according to the records, the supposedly agricultural grants were extended even to Quezon City -- which is at the heart of the Metropolitan Manila, and which is not a place for farming!!!
Thus, it definitely is not only about Bolante. The end of the rope, as it were, will be found right at the very corridors of power in Malacanan Palace.
This -- and many more! -- case in the Philippines is, well, not a unique Filipino experience. Exactly, in Thailand, for example, at least after the coup that toppled Thaksin -- who was last week found guilty by the Supreme Court of Thailand for acts of fraud and corruption -- there were already two Prime Ministers. The first one was booted out of power because of conflict of interest after he violated the very Constitution when he kept on hosting his regular cooking show while he was sitting as Prime Minister. The sitting Prime Minister now is likewise not spared from legal troubles, as he's also accused of corrupt practices in addition to his being a puppet of Thaksin (note: he's brother-in-law to Thaksin).
In Japan, too, the regime that preceded that of Prime Minister Aso was put in hot seat after several of the administration's key officials were found to have committed untoward actions while in office -- thus, violating the trust and confidence of their constituents.
With these and similar news happening all around us, can we still be hopeful to have a better world?
I would like to put forward that when, for example, in Singapore the Al-Qaeda terrorist in the region was able to escape from his prison cell through a window pane in the comfort room of his cell, the government was so quick to act by conducting a thorough investigation and by making those responsible face the axe. And with this at least the confidence of the Singaporeans were restored to a level enough for a critical support of their government.
But, can we expect this to happen at all times and at all places?
As most likely our answer is in the negative we pose the question: from where can proceed our hope for a better world?
Let me narrate a story in parting: two days ago, I was in a department store. Two boys aged 8 were with me. They spotted a one hundred dollar bill on the floor. I was both surprised and delighted by what they did. They quickly announced that they saw the bill, and asked aloud who owned it.
