By Reni M. Valenzuela
Reminisce about the past to understand life. Feel the present to realize life. But have life by gazing at the future. Politicians come and go, but truth marches on. There’s hope.
What seemed impossible yesterday has happened and is happening before our very eyes today—the arrest of a demigod, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his immediate, outright, decisive flight/dispatch to The Hague, Netherlands, for a crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kudos.
Only the unenlightened and/or merciless and myopic may question justice taking its course (finally) at this juncture of our nation’s history.
Heaven opened up, and relief, comfort, and recompense are beginning to glimmer, unfold, and shimmer for the more than 30,000 victims of extrajudicial killings, together with their still-grieving, bereaved families, in the bloody “drug war” campaign of the previous administration.
But what does this prove and tell us, dear countrymen and leaders of the land? Answer: No one is God but God, and God alone—the God of the Bible, the God of justice and righteousness.
Seventeenth-century English philosopher Francis Bacon once said, “If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us.”
The bogus “drug war” by the Duterte police, obviously, was hatched and implemented not really to fight drug pushing, drug smuggling, drug addiction, and criminality but to grab the “reward” by hook or by crook—worse, at the expense of the poor and penniless, the neglected and dejected. Devilish.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” – Amos 5:24
Fresh news has it that Senator Francis Escudero is requesting The Hague court to accord due process to Mr. Duterte and to respect his human rights. Weird.
May I ask, Mr. Senate President, why did you not request the same to be accorded to the countless, nameless, faceless, hapless, helpless victims of “tokhang,” much less at the height of its brutality and ruthlessness in 2016 and 2017? Heartless.
How do you explain that? I hate to regret having voted for you the first time you ran for a Senate seat. Rejoinder, please, sir.
Nothing can test politicians and officials better than their bosom and resolve to render justice to human rights victims and their moral ascendancy—steadfast, serious, and religious—to eradicate crookedness and corruption in the government.
This year’s midterm elections are fast approaching.
Therefore, dear Filipino voters, watch closely where the candidates stand on the issues at hand, including the West Philippine Sea dispute, pork barrel, confidential and intelligence funds, injustice and social inequity, the Sara impeachment, and political dynasties.
But watch out for pretenders—good actors and actresses—who put their best foot forward and present filtered images to lure your votes. Beware.
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