EYE OPENER
Cries of the People
Any place in the Philippines today, there are hungry children, the elderly and the poor family, because the outgoing administration had failed to give them aid such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Unlike in the U.S. where the unemployed are being given job, the hungry are fed and the sick are treated in hospital and subsidies in money and in kind are made available to the needy Americans. The U.S. government has plenty of fund to aid their unfortunate Americans, whether Hispanic, Mexican, Asian, and Arab. In the Philippines, sad to say, had given zero aid to the poverty-stricken poor Filipinos. Where did the money intended for the poor and afflicted Filipinos go?
Billions of pesos in the government coffers were lost to grafters. While the crooked government officials and dishonest employees are wallowing in wealth by the millions and even billions, some 15 million Filipinos are poor; 10 million in wanton poverty; 12 million are unemployed, half-time work, three days work on rotation basis, and other enigma of poverty.
People who stole millions and billions from the coffers of the government live in palaces, eat sumptuous food, dress like a prince or a king, and spend their ill-gotten wealth in many vices. Overlooking their mansions are shanties and carton-built huts. Amos 3:10, “For they do not know to do right, says the Lord, “who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.”
People who are victims of injustice have been asking for justice but the administration had only filed cases but the results may not be forthcoming as the culprits are close to the power that be. The Lord said in Isaiah 61:8, “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make them an everlasting covenant.”
The people rejoiced in 2007 when the Sandiganbayan handed down guilty verdict to Erap for plunder. But hardly the promulgation’s ink has gone dry, President Arroyo pardoned the culprit on plunder. While poor workers whose only crime was to steal food for their hungry family were sentenced to several years in prison. There are reportedly many kinds of justice in the Philippines, 1) for political protégé, 2) for a close friend, 3) for the influential and rich, and 4(relatives of higher ups.
President Noynoy Aquino in his inaugural speech promised his constituents that he will attend to graft cases. Gloria Arroyo is the first to fall into the hands of former Chief Justice Davide who heads the graft body in the Aquino regime. The controversial DENR assistant secretary is next in the list and followed by about 20 former crooks and thieves in government. Will justice Davide succeed in his determination to send the culprits to jail? During President Cory Aquino’s term in 1997 to 1992, there was a commission appointed by the lady president to run after ex-dictator Marcos’s wealth but up to now, the cases that were filed found its way into the limbo of forgetfulness.
Many of the high government officials in the GMA regime were Christians, but if they are reading the Bible daily, they will read the instructions of God on how to live a life worthy of God’s approval. Many of the government offices have their own office chapel but how come that they are not taught the righteousness of God? If the head of the office is righteous, how come that he and his corrupt employees steal the people’s money? Like Sodom and Gomorrah where there were no righteous people, God destroyed the sinful cities.
The Philippines though her sins are widespread there are still born again Christians praying for the country and the Lord heard their prayer. In Chronicles 7:14, God has taught His people thus: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.” If this instruction is faithfully observed by government officials and employees, there is no reason why the treasury of the government will be emptied by the so-called Christian government personnel.
President Aquino is bent on making the government graft-free. With God’s guidance, he will succeed if his righteousness will be above those who he governs. Can the new President fulfill his hundred and one promises? Let’s all pray to God that He will give Noynoy divine protection as he does the little David in eliminating Goliath in the government so that more money will go to the needy and poor instead of being pocketed by the corrupt and dishonest men in government.
