There is a current buzz about how former president Arroyo has taken a dramatic props to elicit mercy from the poor and the generally unsuspecting population of the country. Props, sickness and disease cannot be an excuse to face accountability of the electoral fraud, the fertilizer scam and the ZTE scam. Corruption cannot be excused after someone has done it already. This is like punching your neighbour in the stomach and then telling him that it was just a joke. Well, whether it was a joke, harm was done and you are guilty of harming the other person. You should face the judge. Everyone has the inalienable right to be free, to be treated well, to be respected and given human dignity but when someone is feigning illness as a means to escape justice, this is also trampling the right of the country to seek justice of previous wrong-doings.

Unless we make all things right, unless we pursue righteousness and justice with the same zeal as we often do to go to the streets, our country remains ungovernable. Government is given so that people will have accountability with each other, it is the right of every Filipino to be given justice when their previous leader abused her authority and used it to gain millions or to deprive the people their right for a righteous and just government. Because of her implication in keeping the Ampatuan clan in power, her role in the previous electoral frauds and her fertilizer and ZTE scams, these are enough causes that she should face justice. When she will be acquitted, then she can travel anywhere but not when the cases are still being established against her. Flight is indeed a sign of guilt just as the sibling of Ramgen Bautista did to escape justice.

The path to justice maybe delayed, maybe hindered but us a people and nation we should demand that every leader who stands in the highest office should have integrity. It is us the people whom they trample when we allow anyone to just get their hands and oppress us. Corruption is oppression of the people; it is not just an abuse of authority but a perversion of the purpose and meaning of occupying the highest office meant to serve and shepherd the people. Why is Gloria Arroyo in a hurry to fly away? Why couldn’t she accept the offer to fly even the doctors, the experts in the Philippines, is she just feigning sickness? Even the UP doctors have told that her problems are treatable and normally done in the Philippines. Why be in a hurry to leave the country? And why would the justices in the Supreme Court quickly lend a hand for the Arroyos to travel abroad? These were the ones she had appointed before leaving the office of the president so that she can run as a congresswoman in Pampanga. Is there not a cause?

We the people should demand greater and better justices to seat in the Supreme Court than people who could be bribed, who could be won by favours. Because even the Supreme Court does this, it is therefore essential that we become watchful for those who are elected to these offices if we are to desire a righteous and reformed government. We should learn from the United States that her decline started when she appointed justices that re-interpreted the literal meaning of their constitution, justices that do not understand nor knows God. Because of this, the US had removed the motto, in God we Trust, removed the Bible in public schools, removed the Ten Commandments sign in public places and banned even the mention of the Lord’s name in public schools. What happened is that secularization came fast into the US and children rose up who do not know God and therefore abortion, drug abuse, teen pregnancies, and Muslim numbers increased exponentially. We should know better that a nation that exalts God, a nation that follows righteousness is a blessed nation but a nation that allows corruption, elects corrupt judges, is a disgrace to any people. Below are just examples of what the Bible tells us to do so that we can become a godly nation, a nation that exalts righteousness.

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34 (TLB)

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness. Proverbs 15:9

It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 16:12

To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3


Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. Proverbs 25:5

Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring. Proverbs 25:5 (MSG)

Clearly, the true test of leadership is not just in building more public infrastructures or gaining more money for the nation, but rather, that it stands for what is right and that it pursue justice for those who are silent, voiceless, those who are marginalized, those who are gullible and those who are powerless. Essentially, this is what the first Aquino leadership did when it stood against the monolithic giant of Marcos administration. Today we have another showdown of what will the scion of a righteous leader do, will it allow someone to travel feigning illness to escape justice? 

Will we as a nation allow ourselves to be manipulated when our leaders in the congress and the senate are silent on these matters and could not agree on what to do? Where are the decisive leaders when it is not politically expedient to do the right thing? Why is Leila De Lima standing alone? We as Christians should be upholding her and sending her message (emails, phones, texts, flowers) that we support her in her bold stand to do what is right. We should not be quiet and if we are near Manila or even in our places of worship, we should all bear the plackards that we support her decision and our president.

One thing is unique with this woman, she has the moral compass and conviction to do what is right and surely she is god sent for the president. To reform the country, one needs to put leaders with the right compass and vision for a changed Philippines into all the branches of the government. Let us all be praying for our President to do what is right and for secretary Leila De Lima to be protected and to be bold and continue to do what is right. All blessings.