Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez' latest antic is to call the Hultmans “hypocrites” for showing outrage at their daughter's murderer being granted executive clemency by Gonzalez' favorite boss. He says they knew way back in 1999 when they signed a settlement with Teehankee that Teehankee would be up for pardon at some point. Why should they be surprised it happened? GMA does not owe anyone any explanation or advance notice. She is the president.His favorite boss, Gonzalez goes on, did this out of good faith. She has nothing to gain from it. Certainly, nothing political. The Makati Business Club for one shows how Gonzalez and his favorite boss miss the point entirely: “Why deny the Hultmans, one of the grievously offended parties in this case, the courtesy and the right to be informed and to respond to the government decision? With the Arroyo administration's mishandling of the Teehankee case, we only see a further erosion in the people's trust in our public institutions.” Exactly. This is not about the letter of the law, this is about the spirit of the law. This is not about legal technicalities, this is about fundamental justice. Or, hell, this is not about prerogative and power; this is about fairness and decency. Do you need to have a horrendous tragedy like the one that befell the Hultmans and Chapmans befall you to feel the pain of those families? Some things heal with time, some don't. This one doesn't, this one won't. In fact, you don't even need a modicum of imagination to feel their pain and anguish. You need only a shred of humanity, a twinge of awareness of what it means to be flesh and blood, to do so. To say that the Hultmans have already been paid, they should shut up and let well enough alone, only a blackguard would say that. To say that the Hultmans no longer have any business with Teehankee, his fate is up to God and GMA, neither of whom owes them courtesy or sympathy, only a fool would say that. To say that the Hultmans are hypocrites for being appalled by the lightness with which this government regards murder, one done with absolute impunity and pitilessness, only an asshole would say that. Maureen Hultman and Roland John Chapman were shot to death coming home laughing and joking after a night out by someone who was out on a power trip. Despite their pleas, they were gunned down, their shooter wanting to prove to the world and himself he was in command, he was in charge, he was the man. Today, their parents have been shot down while they lay in the thought their murderer was in jail by people who are out on a power trip. Despite their protestations, they have been dismissed, even called hypocrites, their tormentors wanting to prove to the world and themselves they are in command, they are in charge, they have the power. - Conrado de Quiros, Inquirer |
