Philippine President wins a blessing but needs to bring justice
and peace
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
The visit of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Pope Benedict last week was not empty handed; she brought a ‘gift’ - the abolition of the death penalty which she signed into law June 23rd. She deserves praise and a blessing from the Pope. She certified the law as urgent, had it passed and removed this odious and cruel punishment long sought after by The Catholic Church in the Philippines, where 80% of the population is catholic. The President also got the Juvenile Justice Bill passed and signed. This will release all children in jail and prevent more being put inside. Now we await the implementing guidelines.
The pro-life bishops have continuously spoken out against this medieval mania for punishment of children and the death penalty. Now they are demanding that the merciless death squads that are assassinating human rights workers, social activists, church workers and even media people be stopped. Will the president abolish those too?
Abolishing the death penalty is seen here as a conciliatory gesture to the Bishops and the Vatican after several of the most outspoken Bishops were hosed down and driven from the streets during protests against social injustice and the environmental destruction caused by the mining operations of local and multinational corporations. The president lost much support for this intolerance and disrespect for the constitutional rights of free speech and public assembly.
The anti-crime groups supported by some extreme right-wing evangelical churches are angry at the abolition of the death penalty. They hold that an ‘eye for an eye’ and a ‘life for a life’ is what is right. Over the years, The Philippine authorities have allowed themselves to be shamefully influenced by their former colonial masters - the United States. The US invaded, occupied and subjugated the Filipinos after a savage two year American-Philippine war, one of Asia’s bloodiest, followed by over 100 years of colonial rule and pacification. Today their influence is still all powerful. Philippine law and attitudes have been adopted from the US including the American political system. But it is a shame democracy wherein the rich families with the most powerful corporate support win. Sadly it is all too similar to the US.
These adopted polices - violations of human rights like arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances and abductions, beatings and death squads all repugnant to the Christian conscience. Likewise, branding all critics and dissidents as terrorists undermines democratic principles. The execution squads are murdering dissidents, labour leaders, social activists, media people and even youth or minors with impunity. It’s a programme of social cleansing for which there must be a reckoning. A reign of fear and death is sweeping the country. We hope and pray that the president will respond to the Pope’s desire for peace and to end violence as a means to solve problems that are rooted in social and economic injustice.
A US grant of US$21 million given last week to President Macapagal-Arroyo, ostensibly to fight corruption is interpreted here as a reward for supporting the antiterrorist policies of President George W. Bush and declaring all out war on the communists here.
The corrupt officials cannot be cured by a fund to cure corruption. It will only fuel more corruption. The military and police are spending massive funds through negotiated purchases of weapons, equipment and vehicles and bypassing the public bidding necessary to prevent over pricing and massive kickbacks. Meanwhile, education and social services are at an all time low. The World Bank has just come to the rescue with a big loan for education. But how much of that will reach the children? At least 15% of such loans the Bank has said are lost to corruption. Hundreds of charges remain in the office of the ombudsman many unheard and shelved. The office of the court administrator has hundreds of complaints against corrupt judges and can hardly cope.
Filipinos, aside from the ruling elite, and their vicious goons are well known and admired around the world for their kindness, selfless service longing for justice, compassion, gentleness and forgiveness. This comes from their faith in a loving compassion for God. But it is economic and political powerlessness that prevents them from transforming society. [End]
