Eye Opener
By Rodolfo P. Gumabong

Political bickerings amidst nation's sufferings

First there was jueteng and now the mysterious tape. When there is turmoil on the increase of prices of prime commodities as a result of the passage of the new VAT law and the intermittent increase on oil prices, our elected officials instead of solving the crisis are adding unbearable problems to our people especially the poor. Instead of spending time in investigating jueteng and the voices on the mysterious tape, why would our leaders not buckle down to work and help our suffering people escape the hardship of life and find alternative solutions immediately to unemployment, price increases, strike of jeepney drivers, wage increases, flood, crimes and tuition fee increases in private schools.

Why dwell on booting out of office the incumbent president who was declared duly elected no less by the Supreme Court last year? Can the new junta president solve the multifarious sicknesses the nation is facing right now? Is there a guarantee that the new junta president can solve overnight the problems facing the Filipino people? There will always be chaos and uncertainty even if Pres. Arroyo is replaced by a junta president as rumored daily in Metro Manila. There will always be ambitious politicians who want to grab power at the top and this cycle will never stop as long as other junta leaders are not given their just share of the spoils. It is really useless to change the present set up of governmental power as it will be tantamount to more trouble and hardship in life.

What the present administration should do is to eradicate corrupt officials in the Customs, BIR, DepEd, DPWH, GSIS, AFP, LTFRB, LTO, DENR, DA, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, etc. The bickering lawmakers will pass a law abolishing all graft-ridden government offices and bureaus. Stop conducting unproductive ivestigations and go to the root of the problems. Millions of pesos are spent on investigation by the lawmakers. Why not spend these millions to alleviate the suffering of the masses like giving them livelihood program, teachers and food and medicines for the needy.

Pres. Arroyo, go on with your program of helping the poor. The military, the PNP and other law abiding citizens of the country have pledged their support for you, should there be a destabilization plot against your government. This is your chance to spend billions of pesos to help our poor people and lift up our nation from the morass of poverty and discontent. Act now while you are still the President. Do not mind the political bickerings of ambitious politicians who want to grab power at any cost. Pray to Almighty God that the forces of evil will not prevail and that you also clean the house of your immediate family members. Win back the trust of the Filipino people! Ask God for divine protection in your present problems.