It is not easy to kill a King
by Jamil Matalam
Ateneo de Davao University
P-Noy’s first Executive Order has no other aim but to make the former President accountable for suspected corrupt practices—the hello Garci, fertilizer scam, NBN-ZTE controversy and the Ampatuan massacre. The new administration would want us to believe that it won’t tolerate any misdeeds. It shall make things straight in the government dealings and bring to justice the oppressors. With these matters as motives, P-Noy created his first Knight—the Truth Commission—to investigate on the alleged law infractions of the former President of the past 10 years.
But 10 out of 15 Supreme Court Justices has not approved the creation of the Commission and they strike it down as unconstitutional. One Senator has commented that the Commission is a superfluity. Some have made legal or constitutional apologies for it, but of course to no avail. The Truth Commission may now face the possibility of extinction. It may end similarly to the PCCG created under the Cory administration. P-Noy’s administration may tire and later decide to drop its aggressive pursuit of bringing to justice the persons alleged to have committed corrupt practices during the previous administration. But it shouldn’t, because it ain’t easy to kill a king.
If P-Noy cannot make true his promise to investigate the past President’s alleged corrupt practices and bring her to justice, if ever found true, then we will lose hope in his administration. If we lose faith in his administration then not much could be accomplished in his administration. It won’t be able to straighten paths that we shall tread in our future. The spirit of crookedness and oppression shall remain hovering over our nation. If we lose faith now then all might be lost for his administration. But we shouldn’t, because it ain’t easy to kill a king.
If P-Noy’s administration think that they could easily bring down a king then they are greatly mistaken. A king is no fool and is not without loyal men at his service. The history of great Asian civilizations has taught us how kings and emperors surround themselves with high walls and fortresses for their protection. A mere attempt at the life of the king would be an insurmountable task. No first and even few attempts would suffice. But insurmountable it may seem, it will eventually submit to the patient, dedicated and cunning efforts of its persecutors. Hard it may be but it is no impossible task.
Ateneo de Davao University
P-Noy’s first Executive Order has no other aim but to make the former President accountable for suspected corrupt practices—the hello Garci, fertilizer scam, NBN-ZTE controversy and the Ampatuan massacre. The new administration would want us to believe that it won’t tolerate any misdeeds. It shall make things straight in the government dealings and bring to justice the oppressors. With these matters as motives, P-Noy created his first Knight—the Truth Commission—to investigate on the alleged law infractions of the former President of the past 10 years.
But 10 out of 15 Supreme Court Justices has not approved the creation of the Commission and they strike it down as unconstitutional. One Senator has commented that the Commission is a superfluity. Some have made legal or constitutional apologies for it, but of course to no avail. The Truth Commission may now face the possibility of extinction. It may end similarly to the PCCG created under the Cory administration. P-Noy’s administration may tire and later decide to drop its aggressive pursuit of bringing to justice the persons alleged to have committed corrupt practices during the previous administration. But it shouldn’t, because it ain’t easy to kill a king.
If P-Noy cannot make true his promise to investigate the past President’s alleged corrupt practices and bring her to justice, if ever found true, then we will lose hope in his administration. If we lose faith in his administration then not much could be accomplished in his administration. It won’t be able to straighten paths that we shall tread in our future. The spirit of crookedness and oppression shall remain hovering over our nation. If we lose faith now then all might be lost for his administration. But we shouldn’t, because it ain’t easy to kill a king.
If P-Noy’s administration think that they could easily bring down a king then they are greatly mistaken. A king is no fool and is not without loyal men at his service. The history of great Asian civilizations has taught us how kings and emperors surround themselves with high walls and fortresses for their protection. A mere attempt at the life of the king would be an insurmountable task. No first and even few attempts would suffice. But insurmountable it may seem, it will eventually submit to the patient, dedicated and cunning efforts of its persecutors. Hard it may be but it is no impossible task.
