My personal thoughts on the impeachment trial, why I am proud of Honorable Senator Lito Lapid and few thoughts about Sen. Miriam

My personal thoughts on the impeachment trial, why I am proud of Honorable Senator Lito Lapid and few thoughts about Sen. Miriam

I want everyone to know that my opinion here is not the stand of Victory. This is my personal opinion and conviction.

I've been following this trial since the beginning. Although I was not able to watch it live, I am always updated through the Internet. But as the trial went on, I got bored, so I just look at the updates once in a while, especially the highlights of Senator Miriam because she really impresses me. But when Ombudsman Morales took the witness stand and revealed all those shocking evidences, I became very much interested again, especially when the defense panel announced that CJ Corona will take the witness stand.

I saw the highlights, read Corona's transcript, saw the walkout and all the drama that came with it. I also saw how different people made fun of him, created images to mock and insult him. It was very disappointing to see all those insults thrown at him. Because in my opinion, whatever he did, at that time he is still the Chief Justice. He is still due of honor. Honor is something that is not earned, but it is a right. In the bible, David had an opportunity to kill Saul ( who was pursuing to kill him) but he didn't. Because he understood that he is still the king. Also, even though as of now he is not the Chief justice anymore, we still do not have the right to insult him. It is just so shameful and so low for us to do that.

I also watched the highlights of the 2nd day that Corona went to the witness stand. I saw his admittance of the $2.4 million dollars and P80 million that was not declared in the SALN. His reasoning was because he thought that since according to the law that it is confidential, he did not declare it. Also the peso account was not declared because it is commingled fund. In short, he admitted that everything is not declared in his SALN because of a certain law.

I also watched the last arguments by the defense and prosecution panel. I was very impressed by how Cong. Farinas presented it. Why I was impressed? As a pastor and teacher of the Word of God, I have the responsibility to explain the Word of God that people should understand it so that it will be relevant to them and also they will be able to apply it to their lives. If I need to show pictures, graphs, videos, illustrations and even jokes so that it will be clear to them, I will do it. I should also use words that will be understandable to them and use 'sticky' statements so that it will be easy for them to remember. As a pastor, I minister to different groups of people. I have a group of people who are mostly older than me, prefers tagalog and mostly are from the rural areas. So I preach to them in tagalog, use illustrations about filipino movies ( Lito Lapid, FPJ, etc.), local teleseryes and eat bulaga. Another group are highly academic professionals. So I need to speak in English, use facebook and twitter as illustrations and give stories about their workplace and current events. And there are students that I'm ministering to. I give Illustrations about allowance, lovelife and their struggles in academics. What is my point here? The reason why I love the presentation of Farinas because he made an effort to speak in tagalog (halatang hirap sya) gave a very graphic presentation, used simple words ( not highfalutin words or 'lawyer words') and used a sticky statement (palusot). Because I believe he understood that he is not just talking to lawyers and senators, but he is talking to the Filipino people. Where majority of them are not lawyers, doesn't understand much about the law, cannot understand English, and people who are in need of pictures or illustrations for them to understand your point. I saw and heard comments from 'experts' of the law that Farinas is a shame to the lawyers because of the way he presented it. For them 'parang ordinary' . As a preacher, sometimes I hear comments like that, 'parang ang babaw' or in other words not much depth. They say, 'alam ko na yang gospel, or grace, or faith, or forgiveness, or salvation'. Eh pano un, almost every week I say these words, and almost every week I explain these words. Because 'ordinary Christians' need to understand these things! Now if you think if you are not ordinary anymore, then instead of complaining, be of help! Make disciples! And also, the true measure of understanding is by applying it! Most of the time, the people who are looking for depth are the very people who are not into it. As for me, I see myself as still 'ordinary'. Because I need to be reminded about grace, faith, forgiveness, salvation and especially the gospel ALL THE TIME.
Going back to Farinas, the reason why I like his presentation because he made the difficult simple, he made the very complicated law and arguments understandable. That is why Sen. Lito Lapid commended him! Because he thinks he is one of those ordinary Filipinos. Let me now share to you why I like Lito Lapid.

For those who do not know, the reason why he is now a senator mainly because of his popularity as an actor. Many of his movies were about helping and being hero of the poor. Many 'experts' questions why he is a senator. I for one honestly didn't like the idea. Despite the fact that he is just a high school graduate, didn't campaign much and very associated to the GMA ( we all know the reason) he still won! (more than 10 million I think). Because millions of people think that they can identify with him. They think the he will be their hero and will represent their voice. That ordinary people will have a voice in the senate. He didn't win because of his intelligence or accomplishments in public service, he won because 'ordinary people' think that they can trust him.

I'm glad that he is our senator. And I'm proud of that. Don't get me wrong, if ever he will run again I will not still vote for him, because I think he is not really fit for the senate, but I'm glad that God included this verse in the bible: "... for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God "( Romans 13:1). During the last day of the impeachment trial, (Sen. Enrile will agree with me on this) he gave the best explanation among the 23 senators. He said he doesn't know much about the law ( 'experts' may argue, why is he a senator? Senators are law makers. Well, our majority of voters are not 'experts'). He said that how can a mere high school graduate judge a Chief Justice ( expected to be one the best in the law)? He also said that for the defense, they did well for those who can understand ( this created so much laughter from the crowd), because he admitted that the only time he fully understood it is when Farinas made it simple. I believe millions of Filipinos can relate with him. He didn't campaign, no highly difficult words, explained his vote in a very plain and simple manner. The reason why I like him because he represented the 'ordinary people' well, didn't spoke to impress, and made it simple for everyone to understand. Because of his speech, now ordinary people can take part, be heard and most especially can have that confidence that they can make a difference as well. If Lito Lapid can do that, it means can they can be significant as well. Comparing to other senators who were clearly campaigning, used difficult words, and was there to impress people! In line with that, I want to comment on Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Many are impressed with Miriam. The way she speak, her choice of words, her courage and boldness, and most specially her wits and intelligence. Honesty, I am also impressed with her - BEFORE, but not this time. She used words that are too difficult to understand, spoke in a very angry manner and spoke very long. She insulted the prosecution, even cursed them! She challenged God and use the name of God in vain! How can you listen to someone like that? And also, have you heard her explanation of her vote? This is how I understood it, she is saying how can we convict someone with a 'simple' error if we are all corrupt here? Since we are all corrupt, and the offense is not much of a big deal, we should let it go. So it means, for example a teacher, if he caught someone cheating and that person only copied one item, given that everybody cheats, that he shouldn't address that and give the necessary consequence?! I don't think so. That is why in my opinion, this is a very lame explanation.

Now, comparing Lito Lapid to Miriam Santiago, where Lapid mentioned his limitations and where Miriam emphasized her knowledge and experience in law, I think the verse in the bible, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise..." applies here.

Now let me share to you my stand about the conviction of Renato Corona.
I do believe that at first it was really Pres. Aquino who initiated this. The way the congressmen made it very fast and I believe most of them have not read the articles, the influence of the president and of course his approval ratings came in to play in their decisions. But how the senate voted I believe that it did not come from the influence of the president but the events and the evidences that took place in the trial.

The walkout left a bad taste to the senators, especially how the public reacted, because senators very much rely on public opinion. Also all of us know what lead to the decisions of the senators was the admission of Corona that he has around P180 million of undeclared assets.

Now this is my stand, I very much agree that Corona should be convicted and be impeached! The night before the decision, I was praying all night that I couldn't sleep because I really wanted Corona to be convicted. Few reasons on why I believe that he should be convicted:

1. If he is acquitted, all the corrupt officials will now convert most of their money to foreign currencies so that it will not be found out. In case it would be found out,they will not be convicted of it.

2. If he is acquitted, now we will have a Chief Justice that we are not sure to trust if he will convict people who doesn't declare fully their SALN and people who are tax evaders ( because by not declaring it, it means he is not paying taxes on it). By the way, he convicted an employee by not declaring his small store he owns.

3. If he is acquitted, other people will now have the license to violate the law because we let go the person who should embody and represent the law. For a chief justice, there is no small or big violation of the law. As a chief justice, he is expected not just interpret the law, but fulfill it. I like the way how the movie spiderman said it, "with great powers comes great responsibility" which came from Jesus, "to whom much is given, much is required". As a pastor, sometimes I get that especially from my family ( they are very frank and honest but I'm sure they do that in a loving way). They say things like, " pastor ka pa naman tapos ganyan ka". I hope you get my point, because how can you expect an ordinary Filipino obey the law if the very person who is expected to know the law by heart violates it?

This may be too late but I hope this helped you clear whatever is bothering you about the trial. If you have a different opinion, I respect that but I hope you respect my opinion as well.

Also for the coming elections next year, this trial made us aware to not take for granted on how we vote especially the congressmen and senators. Let us vote wisely.

P.S. I am also glad that Juan Ponce Enrile is our senator and our senate president. How he handled the trial was very commendable. I also did not vote for him but I'm glad he won.

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. - Romans 13:1-2