Friday, August 24, 2007 Editorials: What Congress should do
ONCE again Congress, rather than starting out with a clear goal--- bringing forth a measure of peace and a vision of hope---has allowed traditional politics to rear its ugly head.
Hardly had the Senate and House settled down than some legislators are at it again, bringing forth issues that tend to consume their time.
Earlier, House Speaker Jose de Venecia proposed amnesty for all political prisoners.
Under the proposal, political prisoners, including former president Erap Estrada who is facing a charge of plunder, would be freed.
But plunder is a crime without bail in our country’s penal code.
Nonetheless, the talk stirred the House for a while and conjured the thought that the House was back to its old political game again.
But as fast as the amnesty talk appeared, it was as quickly squelched.
Garci issue
Then the other day, the Senate took the center stage with the revival of the “Hello Garci” case that could place President Arroyo in a very uncomfortable position again.
A former intelligence agent testified that he personally “wiretapped President Arroyo and recorded her conversation with several government officials and with then election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano under an operation dubbed as Project Lighthouse.”
In that tape, GMA allegedly told Garcillano to ensure a one-million lead for her.
But at this point in our country’s history, the important things that confront government are not anymore whether such episode in our political history has come to pass or not.
At this moment, the important thing is to ensure our survival as a nation, and this can be done only when national institutions for governance would work together as one.
What to do
Indeed, the truth about the 2004 presidential polls is important to put our history aright.
But it is hardly of any moment now since it is quite impossible to roll back the carpet of time and relive what happened.
President Arroyo, as far as the dynamics of our history is concerned, is inevitably moving towards the close of her term.
Perhaps what we should do is make the most of what is left.
This is what the people are hoping the Senate and the House will do.
History
Let history judge GMA for the alleged cheating in the elections, if at all.
If history proves she betrayed the trust and the confidence of her people on her, so be it.
Let the judgment be on her shoulder for all future generations to see.
