Just when the national outrage over the death of Cris Mendez seems to be attenuated by the more controversial issues that now hogged the headlines – the grisly shadows of barbarity that hazing casts still manage to slither back into our consciousness – at least in this part of the Philippines.
“Hazing” per se, is not illegal, as defined in R.A. 8049, The Anti-Hazing Law.
SECTION 1. Hazing as used in this Act is an initiation rite or practice as a prerequisite for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing or humiliating situations such as forcing him/her to do menial, silly, foolish and similar tasks or activities or otherwise subjecting him/her to physical or psychological suffering or injury.
What is proscribed basically is that which involves violence.
The culture of violence that plague many fraternities (sororities even), regrettably, has climbed and crept out of the college walls, surprisingly into the halls of elementary schools – here in Cebu City. It was shocking, to say the least, when I read this headline yesterday:
“Boy’s Death Linked to Hazing”
The victim is a 13-year old Grade Six pupil. Read here the news article.
Finally, we caught the biggest fish so far… and the government wants him pardoned?
Not to be superfluous about it, but this Arroyo administration has shamelessly proven to be the spineless, pathetic, unprincipled wimp that it already is. If Gloria and her cohorts continue to publicly brandish this impudent proposal to a convicted plunderer; she certainly is making sure that whatever modicum of credibility and benevolence left in her government would easily dissipate in the heat of the recent ZTE scandal.
In light of the allegations pointing to such reprehensibly large scale corruption in her government, GMA might have just pushed the panic button and prematurely dangled this offer for pardon to Erap. Why premature? The president could only legally grant pardon after conviction by final judgment. If so - why the rush?
The motive is obviously egoistic; the paranoia, evident. GMA still fears Erap and his rabid supporters. She fears another attempt at power-grab. The saneness of her fears, I think, is directly proportioned to the enormity of her transgressions, heavy impedimenta she could no longer handle and conceal, much less defend, when no longer in power.
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For you, blithe anticipation,
you, faceless you, nameless you
I know you would,
but I saw no you,
expectedly you
But where would you come
from - how would you?
Were you inside listening
inside such warmth inside?
you come from me?
but you did come…
you did.
-for baby Ethan
Guilty. Joseph Estrada is found guilty of plunder.
This is an important mark in our history – the first time a head of state is tried and convicted of a crime committed while in office. Of course not as cold and uncharitable how we’ve seen people in Korea or Iraq did of their erring leaders. We are, perhaps, a compassionate lot. Look how we allowed Marcos to take a Hawaiian vacation after his ouster. And now, Erap while on trial, is well-rested in the comfort of his Tanay rest house.
The verdict was well, expected – assuming that the Arroyo Administration had a hand in the outcome – now repeatedly muttered as a post-verdict spin by the Erap supporters, that it is nothing but a political decision intended to legitimize GMA’ assumption to power. The logic, of course, is not farfetched. For indeed, following such assumption, if Arroyo allowed a total acquittal – she will be just supplying the noose with which to hang herself, so to speak.
But without painting any political color on the decision and by simply sieving through the reasoning of the Sandiganbayan would perhaps render irrelevant any suspicion of it as being simply a politicial decision. Setting aside pure conjectures, the court should be credited for such an evidently exhaustive and judicious decision.
Consider for example the court’s finding (and Erap’s blunder?) that he is the personal and beneficial owner of the “Jose Velarde” account, part of which was established to be the commissions personally gained by Erap in the purchase of Belle Shares using GSIS and SSS funds. The amount of commission paid: P189,700,000.00.
Here’s a pertinent snippet of the court’s decision:
x x x The Court finds that former President Estrada is the real and beneficial owner of EPCIB combo account C/A No. 0110-25495-4 and S/A No. 0160-62501-5 in the name of Jose Velarde.
The eyewitness account of Prosecution witness Clarissa Ocampo that she saw former Pres. Estrada sign the name Jose Velarde in the various documents presented to him x x x was undisputed by (him) and constitutes direct evidence that former Pres. Estrada signed as Jose Velarde.
Another direct evidence that (he) is Jose Velarde is the admission of former Pres. Estrada that he signed as Jose Velarde in the documents presented to him by Ocampo.
As stated, SSS and GSIS used the funds belonging to its million belonging to millions of members to buy Belle Shares upon instruction of former Pres. Estrada who benefited for his personal gain from the P189,700,000 commission paid in consideration of the purchase of the Belle shares by SSS and GSIS.
The amount of P189,700,000.00 deposited to the Jose Velarde account of former Pres. Estrada are public funds. x x x”
The crime of plunder which Erap is convicted for deserves utmost condemnation. I do not share, nor consent to the view that his being a former president extenuates the gravity of this crime.
On the contrary, the fact that a person of such high government position and entrusted with such immense power is perhaps the aggravating circumstance that impelled the legislators to make plunder a heinous crime in the first place. The respect accorded to the position of the President should be contra-distinguished from a rightful condemnation of the crime. We should learn to put each in its proper place.
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The last time that I got afflicted with this compulsive, nauseatingly transfixing, sleep-depriving, time-wasting, and definitely guilt-laden condition was when I succumbed to play “Civilization IV”, and forgot I had a life. I am trying to be a friend here. The moment you press that first “turn” and found your first city – your early stratum in ultimately building the best civilization in the world – be sure that you already had taken the next few days off. You know, the time to get it going from fighting barbarians down to building a rocket in the space age – needs a little more than a few hours. Don’t even think of pressing that “turn” key if you have an important engagement tomorrow unless you have already decided that ruining your life is your way to salvation.
These past two nights were déjà vu. Not exactly the most appropriate term, but I couldn’t help drawing it from the evidently common experience the characters have of this @#$#*&$%! TV series entitled “Lost”. Just borrowed this complete downloaded episodes of season 3, and my nights are not the same.
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