Yolanda, Janet and Miriam

(photo: manila standard today.com)

Good thing Miriam came.

On November 7, 2013, most of Northeastern Mindanao waited for the arrival of Yolanda. She was forecast by the weather bureau as a Super Typhoon. Classes were cancelled in all levels since the authorities abide to the warnings from the higher ups. The decision left all of us stationed in our homes contemplating on our safety.

Janet then was aired on national TV at ten thirty or so. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee decided to subpoena her for an investigation in aid of legislation. People sat in front of the TV and started to see what could have been a lukewarm investigation. The looming threat of Yolanda was forgotten for some hours as a surge of confusion and wrath simmered over the seemingly-lying Janet.  The social networking sites were populated by the comments of the netizens on how Janet looked – guilty!

It was bland, the proceedings…especially her answers. Her manners were sometimes corrected by the PAO lawyers provided for her. Her face, sans make up, revealed an impassive expression.

Then, the storm came…not Yolanda but Miriam.

I started to have some kind of an adrenalin rush when she started her lecture on “the right against self-incrimination”. It was loud and clear and lawyerly. She then said to Janet: Let me look at you. As an RTC judge, we were trained to know whether the witness is lying or telling the truth by just looking at the expression! There was some sort of a religious awe which enveloped the session hall as she continued ranting on legal matters and all. I got a good laugh when she queried: AND, WHO ARE YOU? Referring to the PAO lawyers…

Some were irked with her seeming personal vendetta over Senator Enrile which she seems to insinuate as the godfather of the Pork Barrel Scam. But even with such innuendos, she still sounded credible and reasonable.

I take the senators’ words on the fact that that was the time when Napoles could air her side. That avenue could clear her from the accusations bombarded to her. But with her Hindi ko po alam, Wala and the long silence, the people had their judgment on her. For how could Benhur Luy and other whistleblowers recount the details of their transactions while she feigned innocence on the matters discussed? Selective amnesia?

Whatever happens, the people are still raging about the plunder committed by the so-called public servants. After all the money shelled out by simple workers through income tax, value-added tax and expanded value added tax, we have the right to seethe with fiery storm inside our midst. We are even compelled to go to the streets and flood the social media with our opinions… After all, this is still a democratic country, right?

For now, we are still holding on with our collective prayers that Yolanda would not harm us. As a country, we are already castigated with political storms which are making poverty somewhat like a natural calamity.