Estremera: Living life as a citizen

THE hullaballoo over the arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV underlines one thing for me: citizenship, or its absence.

It also showcases how we have allowed things to be.

Like the facts are screaming, the law was not followed. But that's okay because amnesty has been granted by hook or by crook. Thus, we are being told that the reign of darkness has triumphed because somebody has called out to us to follow the law, dura lex sed lex, on how amnesties are granted.

Of course, the storyline will be that it's an attack on the opposition, with a second of its member threatened with imprisonment. But wait... what about the crimes and the laws they have skirted? Do those not count?

Now there are rumblings about Risa Hontiveros and her stilt at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Would any action against her with regards the PhilHealth fund again be called out as harassment of the opposition?

The facts are there, laws have been violated, but people have skirted laws for so long, there is that prevailing belief that laws are intended to be skirted, especially when you are in position.

Remove politics, just look at the facts and ponder on how a good citizen, politician or not, should be conducting him or herself.

This brings me to a conversation with a visitor who wanted to be enlightened about what President Rodrigo Duterte really wants for the country?

I replied, a country where people get the full benefit of governance and children are safe in their communities.

Why drugs? Because that is what has placed the country in the state we are in, with politicians among the biggest drug lords or drug lord protectors.

So, how does his vision come to play in this? A country where citizenship rules, where everyone does his part for the country and in turn makes the country better. All of us have a stake here, we have to do our part.

Shouldn't the government be taking care of that? How? The problem is too big!

Then that's admitting that the problem cannot be solved! Exactly! The problem can never be solved if citizens do not do their part.

You are saying that the problem is so big, and you expect an ordinary citizen to be able to solve a problem government itself cannot solve? Do your part by ensuring that not one member of your family is involved in drugs. If every family does that... guest whom the drug trade will be preying on? None.

Suffice it to say, the conversation got so heated up. But I stood my ground. If you do not understand and embrace your citizenship, then please, don't demand government to work hard for you.

saestremera@gmail.com

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