The indictment in the US of the former COMELEC chairman along with other alleged co-conspirators is, at the very least, a slap on the face of this country, and on the faces of high-ranking government officials who are “kilig na kilig” when being addressed as honorable. What is honorable about them? Nothing really. In fact, the legal truism “innocent until proven guilty” should be reversed when it comes to government officials. Guilty until proven innocent. Particularly, when it comes to contracts with the government involving billions of pesos. Such was the case subject of the aforesaid indictment, the procurement of vote-counting machines.
Why did it take the US to file cases before our officials started talking about filing the same cases? Incompetence, inefficiency, stupidity, etc., take your pick.
Time and again since time immemorial, it as been shown that corruption in this country always goes all the way to the top. Yet we are all still in denial about the character of our public officials. The truth is, you do not win elections here if you are not rotten to the core.
Take, for instance, neighborhood illegal gambling operations like ‘jueteng.’ These are never stopped because local officials could not resist what they are being given as payola. It is only when they are campaigning that we hear them swearing to high heavens they will stop illegal gambling once elected. After they win, all of the swearing are conveniently forgotten. Is there any exception? We are not aware of any.
We, the public, however, are a big part of the problem. For a few thousands of pesos we readily sell our votes. Which means we are not really educated. We lack the important element of the word educated. It is the capacity and discernment to apply what we learned in the practical life.**