‘Walk of shame’ vs ‘work of shame’

It’s really a shame how some people particularly in radio are making an issue of the “walk of shame” strategy being used by Tanauan City Mayor Tony Halili. Short of acting as lawyers for drug pushers, rapists and repetitive thieves, a number of opinion makers have taken out their soap boxes of righteousness and civil rights to challenge the legality and morality of subjecting criminals to the “walk of shame” around the public market.

I am all for defending justice and human rights but before we all go bonkers on what is humane or correct, I suggest that our friends in broadcast media take a serious look at themselves or how they work, especially how they present people arrested, accused, or being interrogated by the police, by congressmen, by senators or by the media and then tell me how much more respectable they are in presenting their “subjects” or the accused? The Mayor limits his parade in the Tanauan Public Market. Broadcast media on the other hand sends off their reports worldwide!

Members of media criticizing and accusing Mayor Antonio Halili of violating people’s rights and disregarding the rule of law that “all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” should listen to their own preaching! If members of media particularly the commentators really believe and practice that, then they should put a stop to all their “police story” or police reports that show suspects or detainees lined up, handcuffed etc.

Halili’s critics have even raised the “injustice of poverty” asking if the Mayor has ever singled out “rich criminals.” After hearing all that I simply have to ask radio station people why they practice “shame campaigns” in their daily news programs and Halili can’t?

Yes, many radio stations have their own “work of shame” not in the interest of justice, but rather in the interest of filling up their entertainment segments with what people consider as “juicy and sexy” gossip, blind items, or reports on the sexual trysts of celebrities, gay items on non-gay actors, marital woes and scandals of popular and formerly known stars, the drug problems of some celebrities’ kids, or the infidelity of married politicians etc. What is sick about it all is that industry people call their work of shame “entertainment” even if it is at the expense of people’s right to privacy. Now, that’s something to be ashamed of!

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The incoming members of the 17th Congress have a chance to make history.

Having decided to be one in support of the incoming administration, members of the new Congress will be tasked to pass laws that have public support but are opposed by interest groups as well as their own members both past and present. Among the many popular proposals for legislative action are a law to establish a federal form of government, a law that will re-establish the death penalty (suggesting that “hanging’ be introduced), reviving the proposed Freedom of Information bill that remains unpopular among many local officials from Congressmen down to Barangay Captains, revival of the Tax reform bill of Senator Sonny Angara and the SSS compensation bill as introduced by Neri Colmenares.

Some people say it’s a daunting task, others say it’s all merely rehashing what’s already there but never got passed. Whatever the level of difficulties may be, if Congress manages to pass all of these bills in one go within a year or two, they would be making history and doing far more good for the people than the history making bills that removed foreign military bases in the Philippines. What makes the job of Congress easier is that a majority of the Filipinos support or want these bills to become law and unlike the P-Noy administration, we now have a President who actually supports all these proposals to become laws.

The only problem is whether or not Senators will support the proposed bills or will they start asking WIIFM? What’s In It For Me? There is an obvious fear or hesitation that a federal form of government would diminish the power and influence of Senators. There are also fears that it would lead to a parliamentary form of government that could be dissolved by a strong man anytime he wishes. Already several Senators are throwing what ifs and roadblocks for people to think about. And it is here where our divide lies. Congressmen and local officials want federalism and parliament, the Senators don’t.

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On a more local scene, the honeymoon between the developers of Capitol Commons and Pasig City officials and residents may soon be over. Word going around our barangay Barrio Kapitolyo is that outgoing Mayor Maribel Eusebio’s project for an elevated pedestrian platform over the old Shaw Boulevard Rotunda is not up in the air because of opposition from the Capitol Commons side. According to a barangay official the developers don’t want pillars and the walkway obstructing or blocking the view of their entrance even if the project is for public safety and better traffic flow in the area.

In addition, there are reports that the developers are unhappy, or opposed to being a perpetual drive through for traffic crossing between the Valle Verde area and Barrio Kapitolyo or Shaw Boulevard. Security guards have already blocked motorcycles and vans from driving through Capitol Commons unless they are there for deliveries.

In response, incoming Mayor Bobby Eusebio was quoted as saying he will still try to convince the developers and if he fails, he will have the pillars planted on public road. If this happens, foot traffic could or will block vehicles entering Capitol Commons instead of being off the road.

With a new mandate, Mayor Bobby Eusebio will be quite busy addressing development issues in Pasig City. One such issue would be a “reclamation project” along the side of the Pasig River allegedly by the DPWH. I saw such a project on my way to Rosario Junction and from a distance the “reclamation” would effectively narrow or create a choke point along the river. After Typhoon Ondoy, this is the last thing we want along Pasig River.

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