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One of the essential pillars of a democracy is the right of the
citizen to the truth of the matters that are affecting his or her
life. Truth is an essence of justice. Truth is likewise the soul of
the right to self-determination, the ability of an individual or a
group to chart the path of their respective affairs provided that
they do not trample upon other’s equally essential rights.
Transparency is the spirit of a robust and free market economy.
Media with its freedom to convey the information to every citizen
breathes life to a democracy.
If this is the case, then, why does the
Philippines, a nation priding itself as the most democratic state in
the Asian region and with arguably free media, lag behind the other
democracies in the world? Are we truly a democracy or are we simply
afflicted with “an illusion of democracy in an oligarchic or
autocratic power structure.” The unsolved murders of journalists,
politicians, and progressive individuals make this debatable as
violent members of our society seem to believe that one of the
essentials of freedom is the right to kill others as well.
Why did the countless hours of congressional
inquiries on multimillion corruption scandals not bring about the
accountability that a democracy guarantees? Why would countless
cases filed not bring forth the expected justice that should have
been administered? Worse, we have witnessed well-meaning public
servants fighting for integrity in public service suffer
marginalization, persecution, and even death. For example, the
murder of Marlene Esperat. The brashness of her execution, and the
failure of the justice system to quickly catch those responsible for
her death betray the fact that we have the rule of anarchy under the
thin veneer of lip-service and contrived democracy. Here truth died
and the asesinos are rewarded with freedom. This does not speak of
democracy. The injustice resonates with the melodies of a mafiosi
movie playing in the unattended funerals of other Esperats being
buried in unknown graves, never to speak the truth, muted forever in
the depths of the public’s forgetfulness and apathy.
Democracy is not a telenovela. We do not simply
watch events unfold before our eyes while we enjoy the comforts and
security of our homes. If we do, we run the risk of ending up
victims of the real villains lurking in our streets and in our
institutions when we least expect it. It can happen even in the
lushness of a golf course where you get your handicap in the form of
real physical disability. When cavemen learn golf, they get confused
about what a golf club is for.
Dictatorship is a child of citizen disengagement
and inaction. At first, it was a cute little cuddly infant made to
get whatever he wants no matter what the cost. Then a spoiled brat
grows with his mistakes unaccounted and unrectified. Neither is
there remorse. What follows is a false sense of entitlement and a
delusion that the world owes him his existence. And we all pay for
such entitlements even if we bleed dry. When we tolerate wrongdoing,
we end up its victims.
For us to make our democracy a truthful one, we
must be mindful that our right to know demands the performance of
our duty to act on things that we have learned and known. What is
the purpose of knowing the truth for a citizen? It is the
expectation for an enlightened citizen to act.
A true democracy is one where citizens bear in
their hearts and minds that the Constitution is not an archaic
document with dead letters written on an equally lifeless paper made
from dead trees. Rather, it is a living creature breathing in
everybody’s daily existence as it ensures our chosen way of life.
Our liberties, our rights, and our duties. Our Constitution is not
something that we simply read about in law books and commentaries.
Our Constitution is our democratic way of life. Democracy depends on
each one of us. Demand the truth and act on it.
[Atty. Arnel Paciano Casanova is the General
Counsel of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. He is
also a member of the KAYA NATIN! core group—a movement pushing for
good governance and ethical leadership. To know more about Kaya
Natin! visit www.kayanatin.com or send an email to kayanatin@yahoo.com.]
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