12.22.08
Battle for Peace
By Prince19
“The maintenance of peace and order are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.”
This is one of the principles expressed in law of our land, the Constitution.
Politics is the axis by which the Philippines rotates. In spite of the fact that a number of Filipinos have migrated to other countries and have decided to become citizens of foreign land, there are still a thousand reasons why others choose to stay. For one, political excitement keeps their feet planted in the homeland. Political discussions give spice to monotonous lifestyle and make excruciating conditions bearable. However, politics is also one big factor that causes social injustice, crises and chaos. Politicking has inflicted the Filipino nation at large, and has caused wounds with indeterminate cure.
The independence fought for during the 1898 revolution has loose end, with the large portion of Philippine society presently drowning in despondency, defeat, indignation and abuse. The Republic of the Philippines has not yet obtained its liberty, for each citizen is still struggling for justice, freedom, equality and peace.
Our political system is a drama and election is its climax.
The 2007 midterm election is the mirror that reflects the deteriorating condition of our country in terms national security and safety. It has severely challenged the kind of peace that every Filipino hopes for. This is evident in the occurrence of coercion, intimidation, forced disappearances, threats and killings to satisfy the interests of greedy and corrupt politicians.
At peak this year, political killing has dawned with roughly 860 victims, and 198 victims of forced disappearances recorded during last election period. Political - not extrajudicial - for there is no form of killing that goes beyond the boundaries of law. Commission of such is a clear violation of universal and fundamental human right. Political killings in the country happen all-year-round and reach its peak during this most crucial phase of our history.
Life is a universal value that whoever possesses it has an innate propensity to preserve and protect it. What then is worse than to live in a community that kills helpless and innocent lives for influence and power? Where is liberty when human persons are deprived to live harmonious and peaceful lives?
Election period is the flat line for every Filipino; it is the moment when registered voters, flying voters, commodity voters, candidates, inspectors and commissioners all walk through the thin line between life and death. Threat comes in different forms. Peace is nowhere to find, only mighty breath of violence exists. All these happen to our brothers in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and overseas. During the Philippine elections, it is not death alone that spares no one; the 3G’s - guns, goons and gold - do, too. Gold to cover mouths that hunger for food and expression; goons to deter the radicals from uprising; guns to quiet the witnesses and to terrorize the mob. Is there peace when bombing in Mindanao occurs while votes are tallied and canvassed, when the Lefties are kidnapped and salvaged, when the teachers and poll watchers are seized and forced to pad and shave votes, when school rooms are burned, when ballot boxes are snatched and when voters are harassed and shot? The spirit of election brings dread and fear to the entire Filipino community.
The last election has drawn demarcation lines that highlight the division of citizenry. It has built walls that detached the once adjoining hands of Filipinos and has triggered each to take with him his own means of revolt. Armed forces, civilians, intellectuals, artists, businessmen, scholars - all sought every possible way to express their sentiments and to get rid of the virus that gradually kills their dignity and national identity. The thousand islands no longer comprise our bountiful archipelago but symbolize hostility among regions.
Avarice and poverty have challenged peace. Motives for fraud and murder extend from mere survival to personal interest and gain. Money becomes the God. Because of extreme poverty, the poor men take it in exchange for their votes. And those who have the cash and who crave for power take advantage of their weaknesses. Money becomes thicker than blood. Authority is valued more than kinship. Sanguinely related politicians battle for position’s sake. On the other hand, equal opportunity for candidacy is dishonored by reign of political dynasties, thus, seizing the rights that are supposed to be exercised by the common people.
The last election is not merely an account to be documented and reviewed, rather a fork that will guide the Philippine nation in creating commendable history in the coming years. In the face of adversities, the question laid down before us is: How can we fight violence and chaos and promote national peace?
First is through media’s exercise of social responsibility. In the Philippines, the president reigns for six years but media governs forever.
It holds true that the media is a chisel that molds our society. Apart from the information and entertainment that it provides, media exceedingly influences our way of living. However, for the past years it has focused on exposing the flaws of the government and the people, and has overlooked its privilege to produce mindful and proactive citizens. In effect, the attitudes that we have cultivated are mistrust towards our government, resentment towards our fellowmen, shame towards our national identity, envy towards the higher classes of the society, and marginalization towards the less fortunate. Yes, crime and mutiny are rampant. However, there are pieces of evidence that signal hope for peaceful and harmonious Philippines.
The trend induces us to always view the negative side of circumstances making us negligent of the few yet promising points in the history. These points should be given emphasis during conveyance of information. We only expose mortifying figures and events but we fail to bring into the picture the richness of our values and culture, the optimism of the many of Filipinos, the Philippines’ amity with other nations, the industry and hospitality of Overseas Filipino Workers, the competence and vibrancy of our youth, the patriotism of our soldiers, the intelligence of our police officers, the idealisms of our leaders, the talents of our children and the gift of our artists. All these when enhanced will produce harmonious relationships and respect for individuals. There will be no room for war and violence, only for peace and unity. Delving into the faulty system and inhumane authority will no longer benefit us. It is about time that we should start healing the wounds of our nation by ways of considering the welfare of others and respecting their freedom and rights.
Second is for fear to vanish that courage may occupy the hearts of every Filipino. The last election should have compelled victims and witnesses to speak. Peace and justice are not realized because we are afraid to testify against criminals and outlaws who have violated our rights. We tolerate their acts, thus, they continue unabated, with greater number of our brothers mocked, captured, slain and tortured.
When we become defeated by our fear, we ourselves become the enemies of our brothers, for we free the criminals and allow them to continue on inflicting harm to the community, and we imprison innocent souls who long to live peacefully with their families.
Third is for the branches of the government: the legislative, executive and judiciary, to work in full force for the promotion of peace in the country. Our constitution is one of the best in the world, however, we have not truly adhered to the regime of freedom, love, equality and peace that our laws imply.
Empowerment must not only be seen in legal writings and liberty must not remain as an ideal; they must be visible through proper practice and application. How many bureaus are aware of their existing rights and powers and have truly exercised them for the betterment of our society? Are those people who dominate us and who exercise their authority over us legitimate? Or are they law-breakers who take advantage of our ignorance and powerlessness to carry out their plans of conquering the nation at the expense of our lives?
Fourth is for the leaders of our nation to share in the accountability. For one, political parties remain to be divided even after the conduct of elections. Ironically, the tradition observed after every election is to look forward to the next election and bet for candidates to be lined up, thus, creating disparity in the administration and placing in the background the service that must be rendered by these newly elected officials for the next three or six years. It must be understood that once these officers assume the positions, they are necessitated to work in unity and cooperation so that policies and developmental programs will be properly implemented.
Public office is and will always be a public trust. Selfishness and indifference of officials prompt different sectors to rebel and to overthrow the administration. This causes disturbance to the rest who would rather choose to live quiet lives. For the people to obey, our leaders must prove the sincerity of their intentions. For the people to unite, our leaders must exemplify oneness in governance.
Fifth is for every one of us to become principled and wise voters - principles that would label votes as priceless gems not cheap commodities and wisdom to determine the lesser evil.
In democracy, power lies in the hands of the majority and civilian authority is supreme over military. Let the true spirit of democracy flourish to fight fraud, intimidation and violence. To enliven democracy is to empower the common people, to make every vote count and to give every person the freedom to vote for the candidate of his choice.
The May 2007 election is a call for every Filipino. The Philippines is ours and we are the ones accountable for the tribulations that it undergoes. Today we shall start straightening the path that will lead to national liberty. The weapons are in our hands. Together we must continue our nation’s battle for peace. It is only through our maximum cooperation that we could resolve the challenges posed before us.
(This article is originally an entry to the APC3 Essay Writing Contest of FEU last August 2007, collaborative effort of the author and Mr. Mark Philip Legaspi.)
