Only in the Philippines (Part 3)

Only in the Philippines that the guilty people - those that are really guilty to the public becomes popular.  Either their life stories will be known to the public or they will win the next upcoming election especially if their trial by publicity is very close to the election date. 

Today, Ms. Janet Lim-Napoles was subpoenaed in the senate blue ribbon committee hearing and it is televised.  It is so far the day's most watched telenovela even more talked about than the looming threat of the super typhoon Yolanda.  Majority of the Pinoys watched it on television to know the truth or maybe for some simply out of curiosity.  The proceedings took almost six (6) hours.  It was truly a telenovela – a series of Ms. Napoles’ life story, her success story and her quantum leap of success to use Senator Santiago’s terms.  What were frustrating were the elusive answers of Ms. Napoles on the issue.  It was not that I was expecting her to name names, but I was expecting her to also say more than ‘hindi ko po alam’, ‘I invoke my right against self incrimination’.   

In fairness to her, after knowing her rags to riches story there is something good in her – to put Sen. Satiago’s word ‘maabilidad’.  Perhaps what she intended was good – to make something out of a poor life, to make a better life for her kids – only that she mixed it with bad means. 

We do not know how this story will end.   But one thing is I am sure of, any ‘Pinoys’ if given a chance will surely take a picture with Ms. Napoles.  Since the breaking of this issue, Ms. Napoles became popular and her name is said by many – mostly with curse. 

Some of the alleged guilty persona who turned popular after their trial to name a few was former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former president Joseph Estrada, former first lady Imelda Marcos.  In some countries, when a prominent politician committed grievous blunder against the country, that person would either totally surrender or commit suicide or hara-kiri for the Japanese.  It is only in the Philippines that those alleged to be guilty or were even convicted can run for a position and can even win the election.