Let Us Ostracize Corrupt Officials

By Herbert Vego

TWO verbs with opposite meanings come to my mind while writing this.  Since these words – “lionize” and “ostracize” — are rarely used in conversations, let the dictionary clarify.

To lionize is to treat someone as a celebrity or important person even if he does not really deserve to be. The root of the word is “lion” – the animal that symbolizes power, courage, and prestige. Hence, he who is “lionized” is treated with great respect.

On the other hand, to ostracize is to avoid someone intentionally and exclude him from a society or group.

No, “ostrich” is not the root word of “ostracize”. While the foul ostrich buries its head in the sand as if to isolate itself from other creatures, “ostracize” comes from the Greek word “ostrakon,” meaning “broken piece,” referring to the practice of getting rid of someone.

What a wonderful country ours could be if we lionize the right people and ostracize the wrong ones!

Were we right in lionizing Rodrigo Duterte to the point of electing him President in 2016 despite his image as a strongman behind extra-judicial killings?

Obviously no, since he is now facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

So, shouldn’t we have ostracized him?

His daughter Sara, who won the vice-presidency unbelievably with 32 million votes in 2022, has been impeached by the House of Representatives over serious charges, including alleged threats to have the president, et al., killed. She is about to undergo trial by the Senate/impeachment court.

As we see now, however, most senator judges still lionize her; they are inclined to abort her trial on flimsy technical grounds, which in effect would junk pieces of evidence to be presented by the prosecution. One of them is her alleged unexplained wealth which, according to former senator Antonio Trillanes, includes ₱2.4 billion in bank accounts.

It is rumored that aside from the 16 lawyers that VP Sara has hired to save her, there are allegedly senators who would also “lawyer” for her. One of these senators is also a religious preacher. OMG!

If only we all would ostracize, rather than lionize, corrupt government officials, there would be none of them anymore.

-oOo-

MUCH ADO OVER A SMALL ROOM

OFF to a bad start is how the working relationship between Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu and Vice Mayor Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda is unfolding. Their conflict sprang from the latter’s complaint over her small office space at the city’s new legislative building.

Since I have not personally seen her office, I lament her complaint as making a big deal of a small matter. Otherwise, it would be viewed as an extension of their pre-election rivalry.

Instead of crying “foul” in the presence of the media, they should have resolved the problem as amicably as they had shown in a picture-taking event.

That way, Mayor Raisa would not have reminded Love-Love that under Section 455 (b)(1)(ix) of the Local Government Code of 1991, the incumbent mayor has the authority to assign office space in city-owned or leased buildings.

Anyway, all is well that is now ending well. Inday Raisa would accommodate Inday Love-Love’s request for bigger space. Ole!

-oOo-

ABOUT THE LINE WARRIORS

The “Line Warriors” of MORE Power are the company’s personnel who work on the ground to maintain and upgrade Iloilo City’s electricity distribution network. They are responsible for tasks such as upgrading primary lines, replacing poles and cross-arms, and responding to outages and other issues.

In line with MORE Power’s 5-year development plan to modernize Iloilo City’s electricity infrastructure, the line warriors are actively involved in this process, including replacing aging or damaged equipment.

They respond to reports of outages, low voltage, and other problems with the electricity supply, working to restore power and resolve issues as quickly as possible.

They also work to ensure the safety of the electrical system and the public, responding to incidents like pole fires and taking necessary safety precautions during maintenance and repairs.

MORE Power often uses social media, notably Facebook, to highlight the work of the line warriors, keeping the public informed about ongoing projects and maintenance activities. They also encourage the public to report any concerns or issues with the electricity supply.