Nothing but deception

Ben Contreras

“JUSTICE for Moreno,” they cry. I respect that but won’t make the same call. Oca Moreno is a lawyer. He can defend himself. He knows the law. He knows there is a process. He knows there are remedies. He is the mayor, and has the power and a coterie of supporters from all walks of life and vocations. In other words, he doesn’t need another one to support him––and the support won’t matter anyway.

But I would like to see justice for the victims of abuses of those in power like those who were asked for sexual favors in order to get work (summer job or regular job), project contracts, money, etc. I would like to see justice for women whose philandering husbands are willing to give away their wives in exchange for their freedom with their lovers. I would like to see justice for those whose wives found better lives with their lovers, and out of shame, another suffers health problems and dies. And I would like to see justice for their affected children, some of whom resorted to drugs out of frustration and shame.

I would like to see justice when those in power become unnecessarily super rich–they engage in buying sprees for flashy cars and posh houses in expensive subdivisions. They may be hidden in other people’s names but it is still common knowledge.

Is it happening in our midst? We have eyes to see and ears to hear. And we also have a choice not to see and hear or pretend not to see or hear. I leave that to your conscience.

If this kind of justice is not served, we are not just going back to the “dark ages” but also sink into the lowest level of our sense of morality.

If mine is going to be a voice in the wilderness, so be it. One day, you will be in my shoes when your daughter, sister, mother, wife fall victim to this kind of politicians. Or perhaps, you will choose to keep your silence because the reward is handsome.

There is no politics here as I swore to a Church leader that whoever sits there and found wanting, I would still be his worst critic and enemy.

The next time we cry for justice for someone, think of those who cannot defend themselves, and who are suffering in silence. Defend the weak, not the strong.

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Pictures say a thousand words. Of course, compared to his predecessor, Moreno has done a lot. I admire him for his school buildings, his road-concreting projects, his refurbished city hospital, etc. But we don’t have to lose sight of the legal processes that go with them. That is why it is imperative that the people should know how their taxes are spent.

We cannot be silent if only a few or a chosen few bag vital projects in the city like when we raised our voices to high heavens about Dongkoy Emano’s favorite contractor. We scrutinized Dongkoy’s projects for fear of undue overpricing and yet we have kept mum on Moreno’s. In short, when we demanded transparency during the time of Dongkoy, we should do no less this time.

For those who posted photos of Moreno’s projects, that’s fine with me. But please, tell the truth. Do not post pictures of markets as clean when the truth is far from it. Or a Hapsay road when, in fact, it’s messy. When you claim the city is clean, invite me to the places that I have not seen clean. Otherwise, it’s nothing but deception.