The recommendation of Senator Richard Gordon’s committee to file criminal charges against stalwarts of the past administration including former President Noynoy Aquino is what the country needs. This is to deter upcoming officials from thinking that they can do anything while in office as they will be insulated from prosecution once they are out of office. This is wrong. They can be hounded all their lives for whatever illegal act they committed while in office.
Many local officials especially in the provinces have that wrong perception. So the prosecution of PNoy et al. for corruption or any other illegal act in connection with the dengvaxia vaccine should be a practical lesson for such local officials.
Those who are running for office this coming elections in 2019 should show the people that they can weed out corruption and other illegal acts of those in power in their localities. But any statement to such effect is nothing but words. They have to show it through concrete actions.
One thing they can do is to file cases against former officials who committed violations of the law during their incumbency. This would show that they have balls to protect the people’s interest and that they are not just full of hot air or “bola bola.”
Showing that one could do something for the people is what propelled PDu30 to the presidency. He created the perception he could even kill better than the killers, particularly, the deranged drug addicts. But we are not encouraging extrajudicial killings here. What we are encouraging is the decisiveness to bring corrupt powerful former or present officials to justice.
The people would cheer and support the political ambitions of such decisive and well- meaning individuals.**