I must agree with you my friend. And in the Philippine networks, the news on the Senate and House of Representatives hearings hugs the spots. I am not saying that they are not important, they are. And I do watch them out of a seething anger knowing that the people’s money are given to general’s as freebies. But I hope the national newsrooms would also give due importance to the floods in Caraga and Sulu. Lives and property are getting lost in these places.
Yup, I can well understand the need to focus on the drama of the AFP hearings. Especially since it’s almost made for TV with emotional and driven witnesses, recalcitrant and diabolical villains (I will not incriminate myself) and overmatched patsies who are watching the shit hit the fan. Like you, I’ve been caught up in the proceedings as well! It’s very hard not to be.
What the hearings are doing is giving us insight into a failing system that left Filipinos behind in their own country. It should not though be overshadowing the suffering of Filipinos, who are victims of this graft and corruption in very obvious ways. Those who are losing house and life and the actual representation of what has been going on in the halls of power in this country. It’s not the money or the properties stolen. It is the lost opportunities to help Filipinos, to build the necessary infrastructure and put in place the wholly needed training programs and technology to save and protect in times of crisis.
While the tears of a whistleblower are dramatic and the reticence of a corrupt man anger-inducing, the continued suffering of Filipinos should be wrath worthy. They are the true victims of the generals and their patrons.
