EACH TIME February 24 comes each year, it must be a deluge of painful memories that will haunt the hearts and minds of the the Marcos heirs. The triumph of the People Power in 1986 meant the downfall of the Marcos family's clutch on political power. And I cannot blame Imelda and the Marcos children if they will feel bad each time the country celebrates the Day. It is simply natural to grieve the memories of so much loss.
The news report today the post that Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wrote for his Facebook account. The gist of it all is, after 26 years of freedom from his father's dictatorial rule, not much has changed. He asked: "Has poverty been alleviated? Is the wealth of the country more equitably distributed? Do we have more jobs available at home? Has there been a rise in the quality of our education? Are we self sufficient in our daily food requirements? Is there less hunger? Crime? Insurgency? Corruption? Basic services? Health?"
These questions are legitimate. But the asking apparently is badly timed. Had it been asked a few years ago, all could have been answered "Yes" for each point. Still, no serious reform had been fully successful in destroying the forces that been let loose in public governance since then..., not until today. And to think of it, two corrupt presidencies rose its neck since then. Even Cory's presidency was rendered short-lasting in combatting the cancer that had eroded politics and public service in the country. Perhaps only President Fidel Ramos enjoyed a rather better times for presidency.
Instead of minimizing the accomplishments of Philippine democracy, these questions instead revealed how deep in the hole had the Philippines been when the late dictator hurriedly escaped to Hawaii, and die there. I can only imagine how badly the Philippine institutions, as well as the Filipino mindset, had been destroyed during the time of the martial rule. Can you imagine, even after 26 years, Philippines still failed to shake off the impact of the Marcosian cancer? In fact, two leaders in the Marcos era who later became president of the republic succumbed to the disease, and have to face legal accountability before the people after their time ended in infamy?
"Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the hungry," the senator continued. This very excuse for facing accountability of one's action had been the reason why corrupt public officials had the audacity to insist on their corrupt ways. Anyway, future leaders, as the rationale goes, will have to close their eyes from demanding accountability in the name of "unity" and "not blaming." This reasoning in fact is a fruit of an error in values that says, Do the worst today; tomorrow no one will remember you anyway.
It is true that blaming will not bring food to the plates of the hungry. Still it is also true that those who are to blame were the very people who took the food from the plates of the hungry. And did it with so much vengeance, the country still reeled in the wounds of such an abuse even after 26 years hence.
The truth is, blaming is not the same as demanding accountability from those who were accountable for their damning actions. Demanding accountability is demanding justice from those who violated the Filipino people for personal gains using the very power that the people entrusted to them, and God knows, even stolen in the process. It is a demand for justice as legitimate and necessary as the filing of criminal charges against the person or persons who murdered your family in cold blood.
At the end of the day, denying the demands of accountability is denying the rights of the victim to demand restitution from those who violated it. It is not about blaming. It is applying justice equally, with utmost fairness, among the Filipino people, restoring the blindfold in lady justice that had been removed through the power of money and politics. Demanding accountability is reclaiming justice and the government for the Filipino people.
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