The Batasan Five and the opposition

The Batasan Five whom the Supreme Court freed last week from house arrest must still be delightfully savoring their freedom. That victory walk where they marched in full bravado, arms linked and fists raised, must have been a big propaganda triumph for the communist movement in the country. For these five gentlemen, one can hardly argue, are either card-bearing communists or communist sympathizers. The fact that they represent cause oriented groups, which have been actively trying to destabilize the Philippine government for years, is proof of their ideological identity.

It's really ironical. The very government that gives them a protective canopy in their day to day affairs and even in their brushes with the law is the same government these five gentlemen are trying to sabotage. It's the same government that arranges for them seats in its lawmaking body and spends hundreds of millions (including pork barrel) to keep them there. It's the same government that safeguards their freedom of speech and access to media, a privilege they are using extensively, what with millions of the people's money at their disposal, to discredit the country's social system and its leadership.

PGMA? She is just a convenient scapegoat for these people's anti-establishment design. Even as early as the Philippine Commonwealth era they were already beating their war drums. Every president - from Quezon to Macapagal-Arroyo - was targeted. In the labor front, among professionals, farmers and fishermen, and among students too, they are there spreading the lies of Marxism and its utopia. And these go on while in the hinterlands their NPAs are terrorizing and "salvaging" helpless mountain-folk.

The tragedy is that the political opposition is presently peggy-backing on the antics of these Maoist members of the legislature. Perhaps for reason of media exposure its noisest honchos were there in the glory of the Fives' court escapade, their jubilation etched in their cat-like grins. If these gadflies of the administration think their "camrades" would embrace them once the dreamed-of utopia is attained (God forbid!), they better think again. Unless they close their eyes, they cannot fail to see the bloodbaths in communist states where power struggle is the rule of governance. Most likely their heads would be the first to roll.

Is the opposition using the communists and leftists to beef up their cause? Or is it the other way around? These ideologues in Congress must have been only too happy to be on backslapping fellowship with PGMA's critics. Ideology thrives on numbers and if these numbers happen to have congressional orientation, why, everyone is happy! The opposition led by the deposed president, have tightly-packed pockets; the communist front men, led by the Batasan Five, have also millions to spare. No wonder thousands hearken at their faintest call for the "funds of it". No wonder despite failed attempts to dislodge PGMA they can still mount a continuing campaign. Their next episode: A second impeachment charge.

The Batasan Five incident is being trumpeted by both the opposition and the militant cadres as a victory of their cause and a big slap against the authorities. Viewed broadly, however, what happened was a boost to Philippine democracy. It was too a victory of the government. Here is a social system whose justice mechanism does not bend to the wishes of those in the power center. Here is a way of life where even those perceived as enemies of the state are given their day in court.

The justices must have been piqued at the anti-government activities of the party-list congressmen. But the law must be upheld. Justice must prevail. The Batasan Five must be free to go.

This is the paradox of democracy. The playing field is open even for those who have insidious designs. There even those who are trying to out-balance the system are allowed to do their thing. The only precondition is that they don't go beyond the bounds of the law. The problem is that no law is perfect. Always, loopholes exist and these are where the enemies of the system come in.

The Batasan Five took advantage of these loopholes. Yet they are not yet off the hook. Their day in court is not yet over. Despite the mass actions of their minions, they would still get the full weight of the law - if proven guilty.