Nov. 30 anticorruption rally: What purpose would it serve?

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 10-11 (NKJV).

The Nov. 30 uproar for speedy justice and retribution, restitution from those who robbed us dry of a trillion pesos, dampens our celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace! An eagerly awaited season of hope and joyous celebration for every home, which comes to us only once a year.

The projected huge rally would only foment uncertainty and general unrest. Would this be doing the country any good? Have we not beaten ourselves black and blue enough, unearthed the sordid thefts through the detailed admissions by the culprits in the investigations conducted by both houses of Congress and by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)?

Despite our being a predominantly Christian country, corruption is so entrenched that we begin to doubt the influence of religion on many of our people and the culture of corruption seems to be tolerated as a way of life. There are even political pressures from dynastic groups and religious sects, which place their people in government to serve their ends. You can see that their flock is required to vote as a bloc under pain of “hell.” Anybody intending to lead the country must kowtow and curry favor to them and to the dynasties entrenched in almost every province of the country. These are the groups nudging people to rally.

So, what purpose would the huge Nov. 30 rally serve? To get rid of civilian authority and encourage a military takeover? For whom and for what? No one benefits from this political folly. We have seen that the Edsa revolution five decades ago did not put the country in better stead.

Let us give President Marcos Jr. a modicum of credit for personally going full blast after the flood venalities himself, when no one in the media or the public, who have been all along aware of pork barrel corruption, dared expose the culprits in high places, who got away with their crimes and even enjoy their loot in retirement. Mr. Marcos is reportedly not sparing his cousin and closest political ally, ex-Speaker Martin Romualdez, from prosecution if there is involvement.

The wheels of justice are now turning slowly and sure-footedly with the ICI, the Ombudsman, and the Department of Justice sparing no effort to file the cases promptly. The Supreme Court has already designated special courts to try these cases for a speedy trial. There is wisdom in sobriety; let us wait.

We must learn that the culture of corruption cannot be changed overnight. Many among us understand this dictum well, but never learn and hardly listen to our conscience; we still vote crooks into office.