Friday, May 23, 2008 Arinday: The comfortable life of a whistleblower By G.H. Arinday Jr. Sunfare
IF YOU witness a kind of Ovidian metamorphosis in some individuals manifesting "irritating mimicry of intelligence," as existentialist French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre would put it, blame it on perceptive disintegrations taken as heroic efforts.
Take for instance, "whistle-blowing," which has acquired some kind of an art in the sphere of "passion and desire," a transition from hidden guilt to rationalistic optimism of being "righteous."
The enviable status achieved by whistleblowers Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. and Dante Madriaga in the sensationalized Senate investigations of the aborted national broadband scandal has mutated into a different kind of specter derogative of the chamber's idea of the witness' protective policy.
In the zealousness to ferret out the truth about the ZTE National Broadband Network (NBN) anomaly, the two whistleblowers were accorded superb security measures so much so that in a period of about three months the 'heroic' duo has incurred P2 million as expenses for the luxurious living in the 'custodial' room of the august body!
No less than Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile made the discovery and asked the Senate how such gargantuan amount was spent for the two personalities. Of course, is it 'mind-blowing' or mind-boggling?
It was found out that the two Senate guests were allowed to have visitors and partook in the sumptuous meals, let alone the expenses for security measures.
In the case of the celebrity Jun Lozada, with an all-female 'spiritual' security force, he stumped all over the urban centers in quest for 'truth' despite claims of death wish plotted by his unnamed enemies.
The other whistleblower, hyped as the "surprise" witness, -- Dante Madriaga -- made a "surprising" testimony that only a lummox can understand.
Reduced into portraitures, the two special guests of the Senate could qualify into the roles of the screen funnymen-Pugo and Togo of the pre-war era.
What a pity! If Diogenes were alive today, he would have thrown away his wick lamp in search of an honest man.
But we are living in a period where the discovery of truth has become the passion and desire in a "total" sacrifice to save the soul of the country.
Incidentally, perceptions preceded "truth" and assumed new and distinct meanings depending on one's political leanings or passion for publicity.
There was an undercurrent sort of competition between Lozada and Madriaga as to who could deal the smashing force to push the Malacañang tenant into the murky river of Pasig. However, the contemplated dream turned into mist and those intoxicated with sly obsession to change the political terrain of power became forlorn and dejected.
It appears that the whistleblowers do not intend to vacate the Senate premises with the kind of living they have. After all, they can bring the family members every mealtime. The number of plates is not limited and the quantity of food as well.
In some respects, "whistle-blowing" is now being institutionalized. Sandra Cam, the founder and president of the Whistle-Blowers Association, has damned the Senate as ingrates for inquiring into the expenses incurred by Lozada and Madriaga, who "risked their lives" for the sake of truth.
Some quarters are asking us on how long shall the two "celebrities" be under the unique "witness protection" program of the Senate, with such availment of the State protective measures is quite difficult to have as some have experienced in some heinous crimes pending before the courts of justice.
In one sense, the future of the inquiry is empty, if not wasteful. There was some kind of suspense when another "witness," code-named "Alex," was given dramatic announcement but just as sudden as he was publicized, he quickly vanished because he "fears for his life."
It is no longer surprising to witness the "arbitrary power of invention, of discovered action, in short, to force," one to say something outlandish according to Sartre. He added that the discovery of Truth is by chance, unmotivated and commitment to fidelity.
Well, let us wait for the inquiry of the expensive witness protection program of the Senate.
On the other hand, if such accommodation can be maintained, would it not be surprising at all if others shall be tempted to offer themselves as "vital" witnesses?
