Martial Law was declared by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972. Now after 39 years, the country is struggling to reverse the insidious effects in the hearts and minds of the people who survived the Martial Law period, and those who came after Martial Law.
People Power, peaceful and non-violent in the glory days of Feb. 25 to 26,1986 was the result of years of oppression of people longing to be free, very much like the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria, the so-called “Arab Spring” today.
History tends to repeat itself, marked by upheavals, with some common thread — an oppressor with his willing minions implementing unspeakable cruelty to his own people, to the point where the people will lose all fear, and rise against the dictator, even if it costs them their own life.
After the task of revolution is finished, the process of nation building commences. Much like the Philippines today, and P-Noy just came back from the United States upon the invitation of President Barack Obama as part of the open-government partnership of world leaders.
Let us remember that it is not only P-Noy who can institutionalize good governance; while he can provide leadership by example, each and every Filipino should take to heart his own role in nation building.
We cannot forever say: “See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil!” when we see, hear or talk about the bad practices of government everyday.
It is important to remember that only an involved and informed people can strengthen the pillars of democracy, such as:
1) The doctrine of separation of powers in the executive, legislative, and judiciary.
It is enshrined to prevent the concentration of authority in one person or a select group of persons that might lead to abuse in its exercise, without any limitations .
Executive to implement laws, programs and projects. Legislative is empowered to enact laws, and may not enforce them, the executive is to the enforcement and implementation of laws, and the judiciary to interpret and apply the laws and may not enact or enforce them. Each branch of government is interpendent of each other.
2) The doctrine of checks and balances. The lawmaking power of Congress is checked by the veto power of the President, Congress may overturn this veto by a majority vote, or Congress may refuse concurrence to a treaty or ratify amnesty.
The judiciary has the “duty to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch, or instrumentality of Government”, thus, the power of review and may declare acts of the legislative or the executive as unconstitutional or invalid.
3) Accountability of public officers. “A public office is a public trust”. Each elective and appointive officials or employees of the government are subject to audit, laws, and rules designed to punish “those who enrich or abuse their positions” and the Ombudsman investigates ill-gotten wealth, loans, assets and liabilities, abuse of public office, double compensation, partisan political activity.
4) Freedom of expression.(Art.III,par.4) “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for redress and grievances.”
Freedom of speech includes freedom after the speech. “In a free society, the individual is not supposed to speak in timorous whispers or with bated breath but with the clear voice of the unafraid.”
5) Onalization of the role of the people. In a democracy, “Government is of the people, by the people, and for the people” and “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!”, thus, our country is crying out for people to speak out against the evils of graft and corruption.