The FILIPINO PEOPLE'S Accountability

We've been witness to one of the more tragic crime incidents not only in recent Philippine History, but in the history of global news reporting. We saw before our very eyes the tragedy that took not only the lives of our less fortunate brothers and sisters from Hong Kong and China, but the dignity and pride that we currently have for our country.

Some have been reduced to name calling, insulting, branding, while most have been trying to pin point the blame to all sides, mostly to the government, the media and the police.

I admit to being one of those people who was extremely outraged after what transpired during the hostage taking incident, but after I came into my right senses, I realized that I, like the rest of those who were directly involved in the incident, should take accountability for what happened here in our country.

I hate to disown this government, since this administration was elected by more than 14 million Filipino's. Though I may not have voted for this sitting President, I stand by the institution by which he was seated. However, this sitting President must take accountability for what happened. Our diplomatic ties have been strained, and the President has to manifest sincerity in everything he does and show he is under control of the situation. This is no time to study, because studies should have been done long before he was installed to the Presidency. I would not want to hear the President say again, "We will study the matter and so and so forth."

Mr. President, you have to exercise leadership amidst all criticisms coming from the international community and the foreign press. Our Filipino people's morale is low and now is the time for you to inspire and show the way for all of us. I will not blame you for what happened, but you cannot just disown responsibility for the incident.

To our police, your institution has recently been tarnished with recent occurrences of torture, human rights violations, and now, this failed response to the hostage taking incident. I would vehemently disagree to take this incident as representative to a total failure of the entire police force. There are a lot of good men and women in our police ranks, and these incidents should never be the image of our police to our locals and even to foreigners. Now is the time to rally the troops, clean up the ranks and start re-organizing for the better.

You cannot blame the citizens for distrusting you, thus, our trust must be earned. It is a good start to claim responsibility and accountability for what happened. For now, we cannot change the impression built upon everyone who seems outraged with what happened, but we can start the healing by bringing to justice the death of not just those who died in the incident, but all those who have been victim of some of your people's lack of moral fortitude and honest judgment. You have to make your efforts consistent and sustainable. We will not tolerate your ningas kugon attitude any longer.

To our media, we know you were trying to do your job. We appreciate the efforts you exhaust in delivering up to the minute news of what's happening in the country. However, you must realize that above all laws, above all self-policing mechanisms that you have, that lives are of utmost importance in everything that we do here in the country. The right to life is the highest form of human right we have in this country, and anything that would put that to peril should outrightly be condemned and brought to justice. Don't give us excuses that its a journalists' instinct to continue to roll live footage, don't give us petty reasons just to absolve yourself from the blame. Its human instinct, but when the country's reputation and your entire institution's image is on the line, I think its time to salvage it by being truthful as you claim to be and honest in admitting a part of the blame for what happened. Take responsibility and accountability for what just happened, and I'm sure later on, people will understand you might just have crossed the line in trying to do your jobs real well.

To our people, it is most understandable that we are in a period of condemnation towards the police, the media and the government. They have been the subject of our endless criticisms, often, the topic of our hatred and disgust. But do we take time to examine what we do everyday, in terms of contributing to this behavior of some of the culprits? We always disown when something goes wrong with some of our institutions, while we claim victory when some of our heroes win in international competitions. We only take pride in success, but we take the other route when there is failure.

Filipino's are known to be great individuals, but this is no time to be individualistic when the country's image, reputation and history is on the line. Our message has to be one, and while we are one with the world in expressing our outrage for those who were primarily responsible, we have to stand by our Philippine institutions- our Philippine police, our Philippine media, our Philippine government. This is the Philippines we're talking about, not just the Manila Police District, not just ABS-CBN or GMA, not just Noynoy Aquino and his administration.

We stand not to defend them for their wrongs, but to tell the whole world that we will ensure our Philippine police, media and government will be accountable utmostly to us, vigilant citizens of the Philippines, who are proud to call ourselves Filipinos. Our race will not be defined by this incident, our history will not be dictated upon by this failure. We will tell them not all of us are bad, and that we are a naturally hospitable, kind-hearted and peace loving people.

We cannot be in a perpetual and forever state of complaining. We will be actors of change, we will be part of that change, not just through words, but through action.

Let rehabilitation begin. Let wounds heal, and let our hearts listen to the emotional outrage of our HK and chinese brothers and sisters. Let justice run its course, thus we should not put it into our own bare hands. Let peace reign because the citizens of this country, the Filipino's, will not anymore tolerate any disgrace to what our forebearers and heroes fought for, will not permit any dishonor to the nationalism we have upheld by lesson and by virtue.

The Development and Maturation of our country shall only take place if we learn to take accountability, fulfill our responsibility and act swiftly, not just for ourselves, but for the country we love and we've always been proud of, through the good and through the bad.

I am Aaron Benedict De Leon, former Platform Spokesperson of LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD and Presidential Aspirant Gilbert Teodoro, Current Secretary-General of YOUTH Philippines, Corporate Affairs Officer of GREEN TEAM PILIPINAS, but most importantly, FOREVER PROUD BEING A FILIPINO...