This article was first published on Dec. 23, 2010
Like military cadets, we were brainwashed to think that the Constitution was supreme and that change had to be through constitutional means. Never mind that as a freshman at the UP College of Law in 1986, we had no Constitution to study but for a two-page document known as the freedom constitution. Never mind too that we started our law studies with a brand new extra-constitutional regime that was the regime of Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino.
Perhaps, the ambivalence may have been due to the many coups staged against Mrs. Aquino, a regime that I was willing to die for. There too is the fact that as a high school activist, I once told a group of PMAers who hitched a ride with my family in Baguio that I hoped that they would not end up being fascists.
Law thrives though on stability. Law exists, among others, to achieve predictability. This is why an activist lawyer, which is how I would like to think of myself, appears to be a contradiction in terms. Activists seek to change. Lawyers seek to preserve the status quo through the legal fiat that the Constitution is supreme.
But there was excitement when I first saw him on television. Part of it was that he and his men were doing what I myself would want but could not do myself: to bear arms against an evil regime. But amazed as I was with the picture of more than 300 men offering their lives to rid the country of corruption, the lawyer in me could not initially fully appreciate their heroism. This explains why as I annotated one State-of-the-Nation Address immediately after the Oakwood incident with no less than Korina Sanchez, I could not articulate even a token of appreciation for what Trillanes and his men did. It took many years of my own struggle against the cheating, lying, stealing and murderous evil regime before I could fully appreciate their heroism. In fact, it was not only after I saw a video of him walking out of his detention before I could fully appreciate the heroism of Trillanes and his men.
Whenever I feel tired of standing up against evil in government and have the occasional urge to retire into the stereotype of an upwardly mobile lawyer, I think of Sonny Trillanes and the many years that he spent behind bars fighting a regime and a system that is rotten and evil to the core. Whenever I feel that this nation deserves to continue to wallow in poverty because despite a change in government, corruption remains endemic; I ask myself: what have you actually done for this country? Certainly, nothing can compared to what Trillanes and his men did: like Ninoy, they were willing to die for this country. And unlike me and others who have only raised their voice against evil in government, Sonny gave up seven long years of his youth for this country.
Sonny’s and our fight, though, is far from over. We had high hopes that President Aquino, if only because of his pedigree alone, will usher in the winds of change and actually rid this place of both poverty and corruption. We had high hopes that after nine years of unabated killings and enforced disappearances, that P-Noy, himself a victim of these killings, would put an end to impunity at last. But no, almost six months into his administration, all we see are landmines laid by the previous regime both in the Ombudsman and in court. It also does not help that there is much squabbling within Team P-Noy. And yes, in this team itself, you have recycled personalities from the evil regime, some of whom with prior record for kleptocracy parading as members of civil society. There too are virtual unknowns whom we did not see nor hear from in the struggle against the evil one. Some did nothing but claimed credit for rallies that we organized and paid for ourselves.
Sure, the fight against corruption is far from over. Sure, we continue to wallow in poverty. Sure, the killings are continuing. But for as long as we have young Filipinos willing to die for this country, there will always be hope for this country. That is the true legacy of Sonny Trillanes and his men.
But lest we forget, hero as he is, he too is human. I can only imagine Sonny’s happiness as he celebrates his first Christmas with his very young children as a free man. To Sonny, and the many heroes like him, Merry, Merry Christmas and may P Noy make do with his promises in the coming new years.
(Last Wednesday night, a supporter of Trillanes hosted a dinner for him and the Magdalo officers and close friends. Here are some of the photos.)
Photo captions:
Top photo was taken during his first press conference at the Senate on Dec.17.
Thumbnail photos:
1. Charmaine Deogracias, Marine Col (ret) Ariel Querubin, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Ellen Tordesillas
2. Front row: Billy Pascua, Cash Cabochan,Ashley Acedillo
Second row: Jyvie Macarubbo, Filmore Rull,Eman Tirador, Cesar Yassir Gonzales, Armand Pontejos, Cesar Tamba, Spencer Lo
Third row: Jonnel Sangalang, Francisco Bosi
3. Front row: Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo. Jr., Honasan, Querubin, Trillanes, Berna Lomotan (host of the dinner), Jimmy Regalario
Back row: Princess Nemenzo, Maria Flor Querubin, Lorna Kapunan, Joseph Serapio, Herman Laurel III
4. Trillanes with Ashley Acedillo and Izzie Ocampo
5. Trillanes with the cook and waiters
Well said Mr. Rogue and I echo your hope, “…may P Noy make do with his promises in the coming new years.” I am certain though that he will fall short not because of his own choosing but because out there “compromises” are not uncommon for one to effectively realize what is close to his heart.
I hope that the savvy political strategists/advisers of Prez Noy won’t waver in their pursuit against the “magnanakaws”, as that what he distinguished himself from the pool of wannabes then, “NA HINDI SIYA MAGNANAKAW!”.
The Filipino people deserves a better life. They deserve the complete SERVICES of the public SERVANTS, to include the full spending of allocated funds to projects in which they were intended for and not ending in their private bank accounts. If corruption ends then poverty is not far behind. These two are intertwined in the realm of real politics. It is not easy to erase these, yet as a nation we MUST start somewhere and the Anti-Corruption Drive of the Prez is a good start!
I am glad that Sen Trillanes made a commitment to support Prez Noy in this campaign. I hope that they will prevail, since the entrenched and professional kurakots won’t take this sitting down. They will give a fierce resistance and we all know that they are everywhere, even in the milt.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL, ESPECIALLY TO YOU MS ELLEN!!!
Erratum: rogue s/b roque
while atty. roque has modified his previous assessment of trillanes, i continue to entertain doubts about the character and goals of this young man. is he any cut different from the rest of those public officials we despise? only time can tell.
Some did nothing but claimed credit for rallies that we organized and paid for ourselves – H. Roque
Sino kaya itong mga ito???
Ang latest about this guy. Ang bagay daw na wala kay GMA na meron si Pres Nonoy ay PURITY OF INTENT. Para mo na rin sinabi na kaya ka nag presidente ay para sa iyong sariling kapakanan. Sa bagay na ito ay kita naman ang katotohan. Ga ano kayaman si Micky Arroyo ten years ago comparing today. To make the long story short. Ilan ang mamamayan ng Pinas nang panahon ni McCoy. Bakit siya pa ang dinapuan ng pambihirang karamdaman na walang pag galing O walang lunas. Iba mag parusa ang nasa itaas. Makalusot ka man ngayon, pero bukas makalawa ay iba na.
In the first photo above..Sen Trillanes and Querubin, is that Honasan in the picture? Kung siya man ano ang ginagawa niya sa picture? Nakakasira lang siya sa photo kung hindi man siya…ay salamat naman…
Merry Christmas to all specially to Trillianes and his family who will be enjoying his company for the first time!
Isagani, let us give time for Trillianes to stuyd how the systems should work, then he will be ready for a higher office. He has his heart for the country in the right place. Just like the other military rebels, medyo mapusok nga lang. But in the governemnt of the evil bitch, wala naman talagang mga boses and nasa military. Ginawa niyang mga bodyguards niya ang mga generals. PWE!
Mabuti naman at pati si Atty Roque eh naniniwala sa mga ipinaglaban ng mga Magdalos kahit na hindi daw “constitutional”. Sa panahon ba ni eveil bitch eh may “constitution”? Di ba sinira nila ito when they ousted a legally seated president? When Davide swore her in as “acting president”, lalong naloko na. Tapos hindi pa nagkasiya ito, nandaya pa siya! Alin dun ang “constitutional” aber?
Rose, si Honasan nga yun. I do not like him too dahil iniwan niya ang mga Magdalos to defend themselves samantalang alam naman ng lahat na isa siya sa mga instigators. Maybe for the sake of unity na lang ito na ipinapakita sa mga mamamayan na hindi sila galit sa isa’t isa. Na mayroon silang mas malaking gawain na nangangailangan ng pagkakaisa.
What has happened to Roque aside from the fact that he gained at least 20 pounds and lost his hair? His moral compass has gone astray, all because of the chimera of a senatorial bid. Alas, what wasted talent!
roque has finally found his calling! being lawyer was not so lucrative and competition is fierce. working for duterte must have been god sent for roque. pay is superb and work is easy plus he got to travel in style in the company of retirados and people older than than his toe nails, lol!
being duterte’s apologist other times deny-er, liar, faker and recycler of duterte’s words, would not require much sweat from roque. he has found his niche and life is good.
what happened to roque? he showed his true color, that’s all.
Kakatuwa itsura ni psb 10 yrs ago. Parang kolehiyala lang. Heheh.
What has happened to Roque? Aside from transferring to Corinthians from his humble abode in shabu-zone in Pasay, he still hasn’t come out of the closet yet he has joined the cabinet. Lol.
Maybe the way out of the closet is too tight for Roque to get out, given his gargantuan size; but getting inside the cabinet is easy, just join the organized fray in beating up duterte’s critics.