Consumers Domain
By Ian M. Seruelo

Guilty as charged!

“The obstacle is the path.”
— a Zen Proverb

When a rapist, a murderer or any other criminal pleads guilty to an offense, he or she will still be meted out a certain penalty. Such a guilty plea will only be at best a mitigating circumstance but will never be a reason to exempt the perpetrator from liability.

Owning to a crime and sincerely asking for forgiveness from the victims of such wrongdoing will not excuse you from the same, much more exempt you from a commensurate penalty.

Yes, it may give the criminal a lesser punishment, say a shorter prison sentence, but it will be sheer injustice to disregard the crime and simply call it quits.

Now what is this talk and suggestion about giving Gloria another chance, of forgiving her, or forgetting about all that has happened and let's just move on? This is such a comedy and a grave insult to the intellect of the Filipino.

Does Gloria and her allies (special mention to the shameful Ilonggos – Miriam, Drilon and Gonzales) really believe that after all the lies and cover-up, a simple “I am sorry” sweetened with the self-exile of her equally-corrupt husband will mean her exoneration from every damn crime that she has committed?

But the issue at hand is not even a case of a simple crime or a common felony or simply a crime against one person. The issue at hand is a public crime that has far-reaching political and moral implications. This is not only a case of lying but it shows the depth of deceit and corruption that characterized this government.

This crime is a transgression against the Filipino nation. It is a crime against the very foundation of our freedom and democracy, no matter how disreputable such elite democracy is. It is an appalling betrayal of public trust – a trust that accompanies public office and that should embody the highest political position of the land.

In fact this crime has already manifested itself in many facets of the people's lives. This administration's dishonesty, betrayal and corruption have already burdened the population in the form of anti-consumer, anti-taxpayer, anti-poor policies that promote only the interest of relatives, friends and business associates of the ruling elite.

It is this administration's culture of corruption, and non-accountability that has betrayed the Filipinos as the same policies result to the never-ending rise in the rates of electricity, water, petroleum products; to the continuous increase in taxes; to the inaccessibility of health care, education and housing.

Thus, the people's indignation is not only because she was the female voice in the controversial tape... But more so because life, especially of the poor and the ordinary worker, has been made more difficult under this administration.

Now, how can the Filipino forget when the breaking of silence of their President on such a very important matter confirmed only one thing yet raised more questions? How can the Filipino even forgive when the apology asked by their fake President is clearly a self-serving act -- a sham for self-preservation? How can we simply turn a blind eye when Gloria is clearly guilty as charged?

This column joins the Filipino people in the call for the immediate ouster of Gloria. No more six-month grace period. No more buts and ifs. We have confirmed her participation, in fact she is the mastermind, to a horrendous, inexcusable crime.

Gloria does not deserve a day or even a minute longer in Malacañang. We seek her unconditional and immediate resignation or she shall face the wrath of the people.

Let us take this opportunity not only to change the face in Malacañang as what happened in the ouster of Erap where even a faction of the Left endorsed and collaborated with Gloria. Let us not be used and exploited by another faction of the ruling elite and once again betray the true spirit of people power.

Gloria and the elite democracy she represents should be brought to its end, NOW!

(For comments and reactions send SMS to 0919-348-6337 or email to ianseruelo@yahoo.com.)