IT LEAVES a bad taste for President Aquino to receive with open arms Ms. Janet Lim-Napoles who, after placing a P10-million bounty for her capture, has “voluntarily” surrendered to him in Malacanang last Wednesday night.
And as if it was not enough, the President even “escorted” her to her initial detention cell at the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City to undergo the usual jail booking, leading the convoy of security personnel in the middle of the night.
Netizens were quick to point out how the President, along with his minions, walked the extra mile to accompany Ms. Napoles a key personality who could shed light on the misuse and abuse of the multi-million congressional funds that ended up in the pockets of our lawmakers.
Of course, Ms. Napoles is no ordinary fugitive as she holds the golden key to open up a Pandora’s box of worms that would expose the nefarious scheme that she, along with other honorable lawmakers, had designed to steal the pork barrel supposedly intended for the poor.
Many suspect that the President’s action is scripted to accord government protection for the lady who should be treated like an ordinary criminal who made a mockery of our system, amassing a great sum of wealth from her alleged anomalous dealings with the government.
The national government has even had the temerity to hint its offer of turning her into a state witness despite an absence of written assurance that she would spill the beans, confess to the crime she allegedly committed , and name her conspirators of this institutional plunder.
But many good people I know are not buying the government’s spin, pushing for strict accountability for the money stolen from the Filipino people and putting behind the bar of justice those whose hands are dirtied.
People from all walks of life are outraged at the Aquino administration’s treatment of Ms. Napoles, believing that the poor lady has already been co-opted and has agreed to be used for whatever political agenda it has for the next three years.
This whole controversy involving the misuse and abuse of congressional funds now becomes a test case of the President’s much-avowed electoral promise of fighting corruption and eradicating poverty. Walang mahirap kung walang kurap!
While it is the duty of the national government to ensure Ms. Napoles’ safety and justice is served, this controversy should not be used to advance any partisan political agenda. Leave partisan politics behind and run instead after corrupt system in the government.
Many have already been too tired of politics and have grown distrust on the government. Unless the President comes clean, we would not be surprised that his otherwise excellent popularity will suffer a beating in the next few days.
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