Day of reckoning at the polls for a much-deserved ‘Bagong Pilipinas’
No government nor any president of any republic is perfect. And I fully agree with Randy David (see “Not even a president is above the law,” Public Lives, 3/16/25).
With a strong-willed leader in former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, we cannot discount the legacy that he left behind. The Edsa bus carousel that the riding public enjoys now, the mobility of passengers who take the MRT/LRT (if compared to P-Noy’s term), and the 10-year validity of our passports are just among those. His order for the visibility of cops on our streets curtailed petty crimes. That we felt safe taking public transport and walking on the streets during his presidency was something distinct during his term. However, the alleged extrajudicial killings that he openly admitted, is another story that only history can tell.
With all due respect to former president Duterte, let the proceedings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) take their course. He is in good hands. Being a former prosecutor, with a battery of outstanding lawyers to defend him, what do we have to worry about? That the issue divides us as a nation is something detrimental to our people whom our leaders/politicians vowed to “serve.”
Any call for an uprising is anti-poor and must be taken with a grain of salt. Our rich countrymen and politicians can easily go elsewhere while the country is in turmoil. But how about workers who barely make ends meet, those who are on a hand-to-mouth existence like our street vendors and minimum wage earners? At the losing end are our poor fellowmen, who will suffer from the collateral damage of all this political mess.
Summer months are supposed to be the peak season for our hospitality industry. However, the government of Australia issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution, saying there is an increased risk of demonstrations and civil unrest following recent events. This would be a big blow to our tourism industry if other countries would issue the same.
Not only our foreign guests but also domestic travelers may put on hold their plans to travel this summer due to protests and gatherings that may turn violent. The possible drop in foreign and local tourists would be a big loss to those whose livelihoods rely on the hospitality industry.
May the forthcoming elections be a day of reckoning as we choose the leaders who will set the direction for our one and only Philippines. Let us not be used, abused, and confused by public officials who have vested personal interests at the expense of our people who become poorer due to inept leaders we continuously vote for. May future leaders be wary that ICC is waiting for those who would cross the line.
Why not keep our sanity by being neutral and being pro-people? Disassociating ourselves from being a fanatic of either camp is the essence of the elusive “Bagong Pilipinas” that we all deserve.
BELEN DOCENA-ASUELO,
bdasuelo@yahoo.com
