Civil yet firm

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Following the shocking suicide of former Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes, who was accused by a witness before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of pocketing more than P100 million when he was chief of staff, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has asked his colleagues to be “civil” to resource persons at the hearings.

 Sen. Gringo Honasan, a classmate of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia at the Philippine Military Academy who is charged with plunder and was the main focus of the investigation before it shifted to Reyes, is also asking his colleagues to “moderate the conduct of the hearings so we can take into consideration the reputation, the name, the future of the children and grandchildren who have nothing to do with the issue”.

The brash behavior of some overzealous Senators during the televised hearings confirms that a call for increased civility is indeed necessary. Resource persons have often been treated like criminals in these investigations that are supposed to be “in aid of legislation” and while the exposes and scandals that have been uncovered by these hearings are certainly enough to make any Filipino lose his or her cool, it is not the job of a legislator to serve as a judge, jury, and executioner if a criminal act is discovered in the course of an investigation.

 If there is enough proof of wrongdoing, then our Senators should resist the temptation to grandstand and instead act decisively to create or amend laws that will ensure that such shenanigans do not happen again while ensuring that the appropriate charges are filed against the suspects in a court of law.

The investigation into the plea bargain deal of Carlos Garcia has opened a can of worms that has probably contributed to the unfortunate suicide of Angelo Reyes. While it is the duty of our Senators to ensure that nobody else is humiliated or embarrassed to the point of becoming suicidal, they simply cannot leave the issue hanging just because someone died. The hearings must go on, recommendations must be made, laws must be enacted or changed to prevent wholesale plunder from destroying the AFP, and charges must be filed against those who are accountable.

Civility includes respecting the rights of the accused and allowing the grieving to mourn. But it does not mean we should simply forgive and forget. Especially if there are credible witnesses, enough evidence or probable cause to charge a person and his accomplices with capital crimes.*