By Reni M. Valenzuela
Every rationalization to lay aside the impeachment trial in the Senate pales in comparison to the all-important and all-encompassing need to heal the motherland of some gangrenous, cancerous, life and death ailment.
Let Congress address the issue and work on what may be considered the issue of all issues (alongside the West Philippine Sea crisis) at this particular juncture of our nation’s history, which basically has much to do with all the bills or proposed laws our legislators have to focus on -- too.
You once said, “No time for love,” and it went viral. And now you are saying no time for impeachment, and it went berserk. When will you have time, sir, for the more/most important things in life, and public service?
With due respect, dear Sen. William Gatchalian, you sounded off tune and off key (and off-self) when you said in a radio interview, “One of the complications I expect once the impeachment complaints reach the Senate is that there would be delays in taking up priority measures, or maybe there are those that won’t be discussed at all. We have so many priority measures, so many laws we want to pass... Because the concentration, the focus, research, everything would be utilized for the impeachment trial.”
May I ask, is it that how small and insignificant the impeachment to you? You are six-foot-tall, but it doesn’t look like you are by reasoning out that way.
What other priorities and concerns do you have when a loved one of yours is gravely sick and in need of being rushed to the hospital’s emergency or operation room? In the case of the impeachment works, however, you need not set aside your legislative works. You just have to do the former wisely, fairly, justly and with dispatch, free from needless rituals, delays and fruitless debates -- away from “politics.”
Focus on the whole body, not on minute parts like creating more “laws” when you should be creating better public servants and better Philippines, and a bright tomorrow for all Filipinos whatever works you are doing -- as a government official, beyond being a lawmaker.
The impeachment brouhaha goes far more than about the sins of the vice president and deeper than muddled, meddled politics. Sins can be forgiven and politics can be straightened out, but not as hard and difficult (and impossible, perhaps) as deliberate numbness, dumbness and blindness.
“... as neere is Francie to beautie, as the pricke to the Rose, as the stalke to the rynde, as the earth to the roote.” - John Lyly, 16th English playwright
I love Vice President Sara Duterte because she is beautiful, though beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But not justice.
“The grass withers and the flower falls, but the Word of our God stands forever.” -- Isaiah 40:8
P.S.
I have no intention (as usual) to write a contribution today, this morning, on account of some rush works to do outside and because I have just written one the other day and another one yesterday, but how can I say no (again) to the prompting of the Holy Spirit after having just read the “no time” news. And this time, voila, I did the piece in less than an hour. Hallelujah!