Selective Amnesia & Short Term Memory Loss
When people are accused of lying, cheating or stealing for the Arroyo administration, they run for public office. In the 2007 midterm polls, former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano ran, even using the nickname “Garci” that will always be associated with poll fraud. Garcillano was rejected by the voters of the first district of Bukidnon, who instead picked the Liberal Party’s Malu Acosta as their congressional representative. Several senatorial candidates linked to administration scandals also lost in 2007.
Next year it could be the turn of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante to seek vindication of his name through the ballot. Over the weekend, the man accused of overseeing the P728-million fertilizer fund scam disclosed plans to run for governor of his home province of Capiz. My goodness! How can he be so stupid. This is predictable though since most Filipinos suffer from short term memory loss and selective amnesia. Jocjoc will like to joke us on these two maladies that for centuries have been affecting us.
When people are accused of lying, cheating or stealing for the Arroyo administration, they run for public office. In the 2007 midterm polls, former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano ran, even using the nickname “Garci” that will always be associated with poll fraud. Garcillano was rejected by the voters of the first district of Bukidnon, who instead picked the Liberal Party’s Malu Acosta as their congressional representative. Several senatorial candidates linked to administration scandals also lost in 2007.
Next year it could be the turn of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante to seek vindication of his name through the ballot. Over the weekend, the man accused of overseeing the P728-million fertilizer fund scam disclosed plans to run for governor of his home province of Capiz. My goodness! How can he be so stupid. This is predictable though since most Filipinos suffer from short term memory loss and selective amnesia. Jocjoc will like to joke us on these two maladies that for centuries have been affecting us.
Unless a person is convicted with finality of any crime, the person is allowed by law to run for public office in this country. The fate of Bolante is just the latest reminder of the weakness of the criminal justice system. The proper path toward full vindication for someone who is truly innocent is to first have all criminal charges against him dismissed. And then he can seek the people’s nod for public office.
Bolante himself should be the first to want his name cleared by the courts. A speedy judicial resolution of the fertilizer scam is of course desired by those who believe that Bolante should be held accountable for using P728 million in agricultural funds to win political support for President Arroyo during the 2004 campaign. But such speed is seen only in special cases, such as the rape complaint filed by “Nicole” against US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith. Even then, three years to resolve a rape case with finality may still be considered too long by those who believe that justice delayed is justice denied.
Bolante himself should be the first to want his name cleared by the courts. A speedy judicial resolution of the fertilizer scam is of course desired by those who believe that Bolante should be held accountable for using P728 million in agricultural funds to win political support for President Arroyo during the 2004 campaign. But such speed is seen only in special cases, such as the rape complaint filed by “Nicole” against US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith. Even then, three years to resolve a rape case with finality may still be considered too long by those who believe that justice delayed is justice denied.
In Bolante’s case, the long wait for his extradition from the United States has not given urgency to the resolution of the accusations against him. As the wheels of Philippine justice move at their usual languorous pace, Bolante may even succeed in remaking himself into Governor Jocjoc.
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