Reaction to recent unfortunate events

Even the rosiest of our national optimism cannot paper over the blood and mayhem of the past few days. Carnappers with bestial predispositions, a bomb ripping through a metropolitan bus, a construction tragedy that underscored the divide between the poor that build the skyscrapers and those living in the skyscrapers’ fancy penthouses.

In the South, floods have been ruining crops, destroying infrastructure, displacing people and straining limited public resources for emergencies.

As a result, we are numbed by the same old fears. And asking the same question. Are these sad and unfortunate events enough to drag down a real growth momentum? And distract the resolve of the present government to pursue the “tuwid na daan” to make life better for the country?

Throughout all of these and amid these, I think the national leaders, from President Aquino down to the last responsible public official, should make a firm answer. And state something like these:

The urgent problems of lawlessness and the terrible accidents paid for by the lives of those living on the margin are serious concerns. We will deal with them and urgently solve them.

But, but, they are not enough to distract the national leaders from carrying out what they promised the nation, and what they have set out to do.

Sorry, but to those who think we are gutless and vacillating, we say this: we are resolute. We would rather speak in calm tones but carry a big stick rather than invoke an all-out-war that would be stuck in mere rhetoric.

The law would deal with the criminals in a swift and stern way. We can promise you that. On nature’s wrath and rampage, the government would readily step in form of comprehensive rehabilitation programs.

The national leaders should respond to the mayhem in calm tones and decisive actions. And it should not leave the slightest of impression that governance is deterred by the crimes of mad men and the wrath of nature.

History tells us that every administration goes through some sort of brutish stage. In some cases, it is man-made. It some, it is nature-inflicted.

Those crippled by these brutish stages loose momentum and energy, and the will to govern effectively.

Those who govern with will and resolve triumph. I urge the present government to run over these brutish distractions and carry out what it set out to do for the country and our people.