by Edcer Escudero
ONE effective way of finding the truth is to determine the biggest lie and eventually expose the biggest liar.
The Senate investigation on the bus hostage tragic-comedy drama at the Luneta two Mondays ago, revealed layers of patent lies mouthed by personalities directly involved in the rescue operation.
It was a huge bungling comical and amateurish job by the Manila police and the civilian officials that constituted the crisis committee headed by no less than a former police general and NBI director.
President Noynoy Aquino, too, cannot escape blame for his “monitoring” role. His alibi that he thought it best to live the situation to the experts is shallow, if not pathetic. It is unpresidential logic. The lives of foreigners touring the country were in grave danger, and the country’s president just folded his arms and left it to the experts to solve the situation. That’s simply unacceptable.
Malacañang factotums Ricky Carandang, Herminio Coloma and Edwin Lacierda were obviously trying their best to shield PNoy from flak by boasting that the President was monitoring the situation from Day One, and that he was on top of the situation. Really? If indeed he was , how come the situation ended up in tragedy?
Let’s not be ridiculous, gentlemen. To monitor is one thing, to be involved is another. Just be honest, and admit your inexperience and incompetence. The more you deflect criticism away from the Boss, the more you give yourselves away. Don’t cover up, guys. Transparency is the name of the game. Play it well, and be fair always.
Let’s put an end to the investigation and save the principal characters in that hostage-taking caper from further embarrassment. Let’s get to the bottom of it, and get the truth out, and restore our country’s international image. Or whatever is left of it.
I propose that we launch a contest to extract the biggest lie and proclaim the biggest liar in our midst. Let’s name the contest “The Search for the Biggest Liar”. Here are the super attractive prices that the winner gets:
• One million Hong Kong dollars cash
• One unit Chinese-made car
• One condo unit in Hong Kong
• Two R/T tickets to Hong Kong
The Board of Judges shall be composed of: 1. Ex-Pres. Erap Estrada; 2. Ex-Comelec chair Ben Abalos; 3. Ex-NEDA chief Romulo Neri; 4. Ex-Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano; 5. Ex-General Dela Paz.
Here are the leading contenders for the award: 1. Mayor Alfredo Lim; Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay; 3. DILG chief Jess Robredo. 4. PNP director Leocadio Santiago Jr.; 5. Reporter Erwin Tulfo; 6. Supt. Orlando Yebra.
Just like the winners in beauty pageants, the winner of the “Greatest Liar” search will have responsibilities to perform: These are:
• Make a courtesy call on the Hong Kong chief executive, with a letter of introduction from the board of judges introducing his as the biggest Filipino liar;
• Courtesy call on the Hong Kong chief of police;
• Sympathy visits to the families of the hostage-taking victims.
Upon his safe return to the Philippines – if he still can walk and talk – he will be honored with the dinner-cum-presscon- in Malacañang Palace with PNoy no less as host.
Boy, that would be a “major, major” event.
