Fruitless hearing, fearful Alice

By Reni M. Valenzuela

The Senate hearing is unfolding abysmally and becoming more and more a hearing for ex-Mayor Alice Guo to hide facts and tell straight lies.

Each time I get the chance to watch the “circus” on Youtube, the greater I get convinced that the people being grilled in the hearing are all liars. And, alas, it is due mainly to lawyers. But lawyers doing more damage than good to the country is a fact that I have been convinced of for nearly as long as I have lived on this stupid planet — as stupid as some of our laws and judicial system. Talk about “self-incriminating” questions, for example. Katawatawa nguinit nakapagngingitngit.

Except for the revelation that a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief is possibly behind the escapade of Guo to Indonesia (also could be behind POGOs too) and an ex-Duterte cabinet official, Atty. Harry Roque, allegedly being deep into the operations of Pogo (as a result of the hearing), I can perhaps believe nothing else from all that the hearings have supposedly “achieved” thus far from day one. Usad pagong.

Our senators are right in resolutely pursuing the truth regarding the criminal, illegal and diabolical activities that surround the Philippine Gaming Offshore Operators or POGO and in trying hard to identify the beasts behind POGO’s scheme and satanic course, except that the same senators are wrong in their ways and manners of doing things.

Sincere, but sincerely wrong they now start appearing to be in their “adventure” to unearth the truth, with all their “gigil,” earnestness and pharisaical spirit, plus their “material” but sidetracking, impertinent, prolonging, needless discussions — before the public at that. Boring. Ut focus misdirecta.

Your firmness or steadfastness in the Alice Guo “hearings” is admirable except that you seem to have failed hearing what you should have heard, among a few others. Be fair and humane in treating and “punishing” a sinner even before (and after) he/she is declared guilty by the court. You are disappointed with Alice, even frustrated. It is your fault, with due respect. Wise up. Open your ears.

I wonder how much you love and cherish the limelight of it all, with all the hullaballoo and media hype that “guo” with every hearing?

Why not do the “questioning” privately in the presence of only senators William Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros, plus the DILG and PNP chiefs who could have gained the trust and confidence of Guo as shown in her smiling “cute” photo with the two?

Why not rather conduct the “face-to-face” as a closed door hearing, in a comfortable venue with light mood/atmosphere (sans the media, lawyers and morons) that is conducive to tactful, thoughtful, honest-go-goodness conversations wherein Guo can be relaxed, open and transparent to answer every question forthrightly — not in front of cameras, pressured, stressed, stubborn, stout-hearted, stone-faced and intimidated before the whole nation, and before an angry throng/mob of pharisaical, accusing fingers — with Alice often invoking her right to “remain silent”? Stupid law indeed.

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” – Proverbs 17:28.  This Scripture, however, is not applicable in confessing the truth, dear Alice (and your lawyers). Forget your legal team. They could well be among the “contrabida” in the unfolding history of our nation at this juncture. Better yet, get lawyers who have souls, but certainly not the kind that Arnie Teves, Gerald Bantag and Apollo Quiboloy have.

Dearest beloved senators, haven’t you seen “something” when Guo agreed to simply write some culprit/mastermind names on a piece of paper in the hearing previous to the recent/last one? And haven’t you noticed/heard the one and only single, sincere truth she revealed in that hearing?

I believe nothing in any of Alice’s words, of all the words that she has spoken so far in the hearings and/or in public. But I believed this one when she said two hearings ago, “Gustong gusto ko talaga sabihin ang totoo pero natatakot ako” (I really want to tell the truth but I am afraid)?

Fruitless hearing, fearful Alice. By the way, the idea of Alice Guo becoming a state witness, together with Shiela and Cassandra, on condition that they expose the masters, brains, chieftains and main movers behind the POGOs is great thinking.

But let me suggest, if you please, that these ladies should not be allowed any communication with each other and with anyone (including their lawyers, especially) until they did their individual confessions. Lay aside the intricacies or absurdities of the “law,” its technicalities and “legalities” even for a while — for the sake of truth, if truth indeed is what you want to know and get.

Do it right away at baka maunahan po ulit kayo ng mga pusakal, kriminal, mandarambong at salarin na palagi na lang tila mas may isip o mas may alam kung pano makalulusot kaysa sa mga “nakaluklok” kung pano mapananagot ang mga may sala sa kanilang krimen at makamit ang katarungan para sa lahat — at upang maituwid ang baluktot.

Alice, Sheila and Cassandra must be subjected to inquest separately — to test the “truth” and find out the real, pure, undiluted, unadulterated truth — lawyer-less, bar-less, lie-less, hide-less, stupid-less, fabrication-less, distortion-less, shameless, money-less TRUTH. It is not too late yet, dear government officials. Are you all powerless and helpless to do such a simple, “common sense” thing? Do it now — as in NOW, sirs and madams.

Who knows, Atty. Harry Roque might be doing legal counselling secretly with Alice and company — while he can (to absolve himself), before he could be detained again and lose contact with them — the reason why he’s now “hiding.”

But to Alice, Sheila and Cassandra: Go tell all anyway. Fear not. Bare the facts and the truth as they are. And go act, dear laggard, rotten justice system (and justice people), act quicker than how Congress approved speedily and untouched the budget of their favored offices and agencies.

P.S.

Just one last advice to the prospective three “star witnesses”: Perform your roles well so that when a movie for the Metro Manila Film Festival would soon be produced regarding your stories, you all would emerge to be the “bida” or main characters in such a blockbuster suspense thriller, entitled: “Super Alice, Sheila, Cassandra and Risa” or “The Pogo Saga.”

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com