Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Wenceslao: Poor Chavit By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
I WAS not among the many Filipinos who viewed favorably the United States-led invasion of Iraq and the Americans' seizure of that country's capital, Baghdad, four years ago today. I wrote some articles about Gulf War 2 and got lashed by some pro-Iraq invasion fanatics. The insults I received through e-mail were vicious.
Time does fly and changes in perception are surprising. The popularity of US President George W. Bush, who ordered the invasion on the pretext that Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein kept weapons of mass destruction, has plunged.
Voices can be heard questioning the logic of Gulf War 2. Demands for US troops to leave Iraq are rising.
It's still rather early to tell whether the war on terrorism was served by the US-led invasion on Iraq or not. Before Baghdad fell, there was no proof that Hussein linked up with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Now, Iraq is a haven of terrorists and suicide bombers, and more than 3,000 US soldiers and thousands of Iraqis have died there. Sad.
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Is debate going out of fashion? I mean, I would have loved to listen to candidates clarify their stand on various issues and defend it in a verbal clash. Imagine listening to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña defend his views on vigilantism, taxes and the South Road Properties against his main rival, Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos.
Osmeña, though, is determined not to give the political opposition in Cebu City the luxury of springing an upset in a debate. He knows that debates can sometimes undo candidacies, like that one between him and then incumbent mayor Boy Cuenco in 1988. The debate gave Osmeña the chance to showcase his gift of gab.
I also doubt if Rep. Antonio Yapha will accept a debate challenge, if it is hurled, by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. Yapha is a doctor, while the governor, I think, would have wanted to be a lawyer. Garcia debating with Martinez is the better option, but that would be awkward considering that they are not gunning for the same post. So, sayang.
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Poor Chavit. By Chavit, I mean senatorial bet Luis Singson, whose helicopter crashed in Bontoc, Mountain Province the other day. Chavit and three other passengers cheated death but suffered injuries. Television footage showed Singson in a hospital bed and on dextrose. One of his thighs had a large patch of blue that was partly bandaged.
Some people, however, immediately concluded that the helicopter crash was another publicity stunt by Singson. They dredged up images weeks ago of hostage-taker Armando “Jun” Ducat Jr. turning over to Chavit a grenade. Singson was later accused of using the hostage-taking incident to prop up his candidacy.
But that helicopter crash was no publicity stunt. And just because Chavit survived does not mean his case proves the saying about a “masamang damo.” Singson may have done some bad deeds in the past, but he has not lost his right to be treated as a human being. We should pity, not ridicule him.
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So what First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo suffered Monday was not gastritis as what doctors in a hospital in Baguio earlier said. Arroyo was later operated on for a problematic aorta at St. Luke’s Hospital. The operation reportedly went well.
The First Gentleman may have made many enemies but we should pray for his swift recovery.
