The necessity of incarceration

EDITORIAL

It would be for the best interest of every Filipino including President Benigno Aquino III himself to be seriously reminded that there is no way he could lead the country out of the quagmire that it is in right now without resorting to a drastic but proven deterrent.

A classic move of punishment by way of long-term incarceration for those who caused all these problems in the first place -- a move that if delivered swiftly , without fear or favor , should effectively put to a screeching halt past and ongoing transgressions of the guilty while at the same time safeguarding and protecting the lives and welfare of the innocent.

There is no other way if one is to fully realize a smooth transition of one’s ideas and policies into a crystal-clear vision of what progress is all about in a supposedly democratic society like the Philippines where corruption, criminality and all forms of dishonesty are a way of life.

These are too deeply ingrained in the Filipino System of doing things, acceptable to most and regarded as normal particularly in the three major branches of the Philippine government: the Judiciary, the Legislative and the Executive whose members are supposed to be at the frontline of morality and good governance and standing role models for every Filipino to look up to.

Unfortunately, because most of the very people who hold these positions of trust working for the people as “public servants,” who are expected to lead by example, are themselves the perpetrators of corruption and all forms of dishonesty in the government, accountable to no one and afraid of no one because of their contemptible belief that they are above the law who are immune from prosecution and punishment.

All these billions of dollars in aid and grants that the president secured in his recent trip abroad particularly in America together with all these talks about fighting corruption and all forms of criminality and massive job creation and infrastructure projects in the making that supposedly will stimulate the economy and alleviate poverty will surely go to naught if all these confirmed crooks are still around strategically posted in their current positions in the government including all criminal remnants of the past administrations .

It is a given. In other words, it is mandatory that the “crime does not pay” rule be strictly applied to everyone whoever they are and wherever they are if real progress is to be achieved.

In plain, easy to understand language that every Filipino can understand, there is no point fooling each other and talking about all kinds of impressive formulas that supposedly will cure most of the ills of Philippine society and government.

If P-Noy does not have the guts to arrest all these confirmed government criminals particularly in the former administration and effectively put them all in jail preferably at the National Penitentiary in Muntinglupa to prevent a recurrence and recontamination of the entire Filipino population, the virus could spread faster than lightning in this new administration which is now being criticized for being inept among others.

But then again, there is such a thing as due process and arresting these high and mighty people of criminal minds and ill-repute is a shot to the moon at this time considering they still have the influence and the money to bribe their way to escape prosecution.

Also, can P-Noy categorically state that one priority of government is to stop jueteng and those who indulge in illegal activities like jueteng would be prosecuted? Why did he say that kubradors (bet collectors should not be arrested when they are doing something illegal? Among others, what do you say Filipino? Any way out of this quagmire?