THANKS to some excellent decision-making—both by Cabinet members and by Bangko Sentral officials—and the perpetually growing remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Aquino administration has been enjoying a remarkably good run since 2010.

This has happened despite the spat with China, first over the tragedy of the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and then over China’s continuing aggressiveness in ignoring our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Something that has not been noticed by Western media, however, might eventually derail President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s good-fortune train and keep us from joining the community of prosperous nations: the Culture of Impunity.

Human rights abuses, luckily for the President, his Cabinet’s economic cluster secretaries—and all of us Filipinos praying for the administration to succeed so that we can all have a better life (specially the 40 million or so who wallow in poverty or just have their mouths an inch above the hunger line)—do not usually disturb the consciousness of businessmen and the ratings agencies’ research teams.

Human Rights Watch, the United Nations’ HR watchdog body’s rapporteurs, even the US State Department and “leftists” in the Philippines and Asia are perpetually reporting on the situation here.

They issue critical reports on the Aquino administration’s tolerance of the Culture of Impunity often enough but not as often and as full of compelling details to make the front pages of the American and European papers and the news hour of TV stations.

Only in countries whose citizens are particularly militant about human rights does the Culture of Impunity hit front pages—and only when our President happens to be there and at the time when something as earth-shaking as the Maguindanao or Ampatuan Massacre’s 3rd anniversary is approaching—does the Culture of Impunity get a mention.

This happened in New Zealand in October. During his visit, which was touted to be a great success business- and goodwill-wise, the President was asked in a Radio New Zealand interview about the human rights situation here. The Kiwi reporter was probably raring to ask about the slow pace of the Ampatuan trials and the media killings.

The President dismissed the issue as something that was mere “leftist propaganda.”

That incident reinforces the fears—not only of leftists but also of Filipinos and foreigners with well-formed consciences—that Mr. Aquino has decided not to waste his brain worrying about perpetrators of human rights abuses in the military and the police, who seem to be able to do their dirty deeds over and over again without being punished (that is what IMPUNITY means).

Some of them do get arrested—but escape and, incredibly, cannot be found although, like former General Jovito Palparan, they can send messages to the authorities to make demands and set conditions about their surrender.

The Philippines is one of the world’s champions in number of media workers, environmentalists and forestry scientists and forest workers killed.

It is also notorious as a place where extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances are commonplace, a most heart-breaking case being that of Jonas Burgos.

The situation is so bad that not only Karapatan, Gabriela and others that are indeed organizations linked to known left of center leaders, or even the National Democratic Front, but also respected centrist organizations have addressed petitions to President Aquino to put an end to the Culture of Impunity in our country.

For instance the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the Philippine Press Institute, the National Press Club have signed a joint statement with other media organizations to bewail the Culture of Impunity and the apparent indifference of President Aquino to media killings and the flourishing of the Culture of Impunity.

Here are some painful paragraphs from that joint statement.

“A survey of all cases of media killings will show that half of the suspects are state actors – policemen, soldiers, and elected officials. The Aquino administration’s embrace of a clan long known for warlordism only highlights how state policy can fuel impunity.

“Aside from the killings, Mr. Aquino has consistently exhibited a penchant for proposals to curtail press freedom and freedom of expression.

“Despite his avowed pledge to implement “tuwid na daan,” he has reneged on a promise to prioritize the passage of the Freedom of Information bill – an initiative that could help his government fulfill its promise to rid the country of corruption.”

The President must decide to take the side of justice and the people against the perpetrators of these human rights abuses. Taking the road that authoritarian rulers have taken, instead of the “Matuwid na Daan,” will in the end smear his hands with blood.

That could hex the success ride God has been allowing him to enjoy up to now.