Tinig
ng Plaridel remains as the official organ of the College of Mass Communication.
But today we break our silence for silence has no place in a land of
turmoil. Last semester, we agreed not to be political, to mind our business,
and that is, just to be the college paper. We washed our hands clean
of any political stand or position. We agreed that Tinig would be chika,
as we all are. But, damn us if we remain silent today, because it is
unforgivable for a college paper to write about the festivities of its
domain while our countrymen are outside, fighting for what we have aiways
fought for— freedom
We not only fight
today for freedom of the press and expression, we fight for morality
in our government. We have been too forgiving, too tolerant. But two
and a half years is more than enough, we have given the president all
the chances to prove himself. Still he failed. He has lost the confidence
of the people. It is not about numbers, not about how many people attended
the prayer rally which was a pro-Erap assembly in disguise, but of a
significant mass of Filipinos who want him out of office. A leader who
holds on to his post blindly even as people outside his palace are raging
with anger at him, is not a true leader. He will never be efficient
because he embraces the position and not the service. A leader is one
with the people, and his ultimate vow is to be of service to them. How
can a president build mansions amidst the shanties of the poor? How
can he grant favors to his cranies while people are living a hand-to-mouth
existence, How can he sleep carrying all of these in his conscience?
Maybe he does not even have one.
Tinig believes in
the Constitutional process of impeachment but we also know that our
senators are political personas with personal biases and interests.Still
we have faith that they will be worthy of our trust. Politics is a game,
and we hope they play it right and according to the rules. We are certain
they have future political plans and they know that the outcome of the
trial will either be their saving grace or the end of their political
careers.
Resignation will
probably be the best solution. But with the president's firm grasp on
power, and his families and cronies around, it is a far-fetched possibility.
People are taking to the streets, lobbying for his immediate step-down,
but he would not hear of it. He holds on to those people still supporting
him. A president who gives away land titles and releases the coco levy
funds to gain support is desperate. And we know he is desperate now.
We at Tinig demand
a change of leadership now. We do not mind whether it be impeachment
or resignation. We just believe that the president has lost the moral
ascendancy to govern. And the Filipino people deserve no less than a
good government, a government by the people and for the people. A government
which seeks to serve the interests of the public and not their own.
The impeachment complaint states, "No less than the Filipino people-deserve
faith and justice and honesty." True, we do not have a Ninoy anymore,
but there is someone better than who he is sitting now. Someone who
will be sensitive to the people's clamor. Someone who will not be so
corrupt and shameless. Someone who we deserve. Anyone could be better
than him. We call for a change of government. Because we do not want
him there anymore.
