by: Donald Sevilla
“SOW THE WIND, REAP THE WHIRLWIND”
The universe and nature are structured in such a way, that whatever we do to abuse or care for it, comes back to haunt us. Like an echo, our actions toward others reverberate to come back to us .For every force there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Karma is real and the forces of Yin and Yang are always at play with one another. When we take the fall we must not pass the blame on others but we must first ask ourselves what we did to deserve such fate?
While understandably our human nature prods us to blame others for our mistakes,
we must remember that over and above us, there are forces at work that influence our lives and react to how we live them.
Hence, it is important that we own up to things we do and accept responsibility for our actions. Governance is no different and we must be ready to face the consequences of our decisions.
The suspension of our local government officials over the Chocolate Hills controversy that struck like a lightning bolt came as no surprise if we followed closely the developments that led to the Senate inquiry.
While some criticize the Ombudsman and question its decision to place our officials under preventive suspension, it would be more insulting and an affront to the tenets of good governance if they did nothing to an issue that gained national prominence and caught worldwide attention, especially after the Chocolate Hills was declared a” global geopark”, the first of its kind in the country.
The reaction by our local political leaders and their supporters evoke partisanship and a flair for drama further highlighting our political divide. But come to think of it, if one followed closely and listened intently to the Senate hearing on the subject, you can see this coming.
With all due respect to our Honorable Governor, he came to the hearing ill- prepared and whoever was/were responsible for his opening statements should have realized it by now. Having taken a populist stand, contrary to a bill passed that he authored in the lower house that was endorsed and became law, did not sit well with the Senators in the upper chamber. His statements led Senators to question his sincerity and wisdom in helping pass a law that lay the groundwork for a proper protected area management.
Furthermore, clapping by supporters after his speech is unheard of in such formal proceedings in the Senate. Have you seen resource persons invited to Senate hearings tag along supporters who cheer them with applause ?
This political flair for drama was incongruous to the issue that was never political at the very least. Remember, it was an innocent blog intended to promote the Captain’s Peak Resort that started all this and brought public awareness.
Now that the cat is out of the bag and the Ombudsman has spoken and acted according to the processes mandated by law, painting its actions with political color is not the answer to resolving the issue.
When then former Governor Arthur Yap was meted a preventive suspension for complaints filed at the Ombudsman in connection with his previous government post, there was no fanfare or drama to drum up public support and sympathy from his supporters.
He took it in stride and worked quietly in the courts to defend himself and won his case.
The Captain’s Peak Resort controversy was never a political issue to begin with. It is a travesty against the environment, issues of which bring it to everyone’s attention due to our heightened awareness of climate change.
Politicizing the issue was not and never will be a solution. Discard the politics and drama. Tackle the bull by its horns and address the issue at its core.
The Ombudsman’s action means that all our public officials, elected and appointed alike, tasked to look after our welfare, should seriously address our environmental laws, not take it lightly.
This is a wake up call to care for the world around us, sans politics, sans partisanship. While the Ombudsman’s order does not sit well for everyone, it is part of the processes of law.
“It is not a judgment or verdict but PREVENTIVE and the law allows it .
” DÙRA LEX SED LEX “.