The Language of Truth

The Language of Truth

TRUTH IT IS SAID IS SOME thing that corresponds to fact or reality. The question, to this day, remains: Will we ever come to know the truth about the “Hello Garci” tapes and about corruption charges against the woman 80 percent of Filipinos love to hate?

For Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo’s cohort in the House of Representatives, truth is nothing more than a tool for political opportunism, a bargaining chip to gain favors from a beleaguered President. Indeed, the murder of the amended impeachment complaint is now turning out to have been done in exchange for lucrative projects designed not to benefit the people but for the satisfaction of the lawmaker’s selfish interests.

For the likes of Sergio Ortiz and Raul Concepcion, obviously, making profit concerns them more than the truth. To them, the search for truth is bad business; a President of doubtful legitimacy holding together the status quo and using to her advantage the morally bankrupt political system, is stability conducive for business.

For religious leaders, truth is political convenience. And influential religious organization is said to have “directed” key members of Congress to vote against impeachment. A group of religious leaders did a Pontius Pilate by skirting their moral duty and leaving the fate of truth to their flock.

Some TV stations and newspapers sensationalize truth to improve ratings or increase sales. Government TV and radio stations desperately try to improve Ms Arroyo’s image all the while lambasting the opposition as enemies of the state.

Through there are well-meaning oppositionists who sincerely want to know the truth, there are those whose mistakes in the past have put cloud of doubt on their true intentions. Marcos, Estrada and their allies, rejected by the people in 1986 and 2001, suffer the same lack of credibility and moral ascendancy as the impostor residing in the Malacanang. The anti-GMA forces must convince the apathetic public that there is a better alternative to GMA. The people have become wary about changing a bad president with a worse one.

Ms. Arroyo has disgraced the presidency far grievously than her predecessors. Erap clearly won the 1998 elections without calling a Comelec official. In her calloused determination to stay in power, Ms. Arroyo has bastardized the National Bureau of Investigation et al. to conceal the whereabouts of her phone pal, Virgilio Garcillano.

The police and the military are fast becoming her private army-spying on the opposition, threatening witnesses and raiding the opposition supporters without valid search warrants. She has practically used every means possible to suppress the truth and confuse the public. Garcillano’s continued disappearance and Ms. Arroyo’s increasingly bullying tactics only bolster the prevailing perception that indeed she rigged the 2004 presidential elections.