Impunity in PH guaranteed by diplomatic immunity

Impunity in PH guaranteed by diplomatic immunity

Paraphrasing Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, impunity means there is a crime but there is no criminal. There is an offense or violation but no one is made accountable. This is how the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo helped us describe its own record of human rights violations. Up to this moment, retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and Arroyo, the notorious representations of human rights violations here in the Philippines, have not yet been made accountable.

Human rights violations are still being committed at an increasingly alarming rate, and yes, with impunity.
Recently, there was another infuriating account of impunity involving a diplomat: a 19-year-old woman accused Erick Bairnals Shcks, a technical officer of the Panama Maritime Authority who holds a diplomatic passport, of rape. The Department of Foreign Affairs certified that Shcks was covered by diplomatic immunity.

The DFA, based on technical and legal grounds, is sending a message to the whole world that here in the Philippines, any person holding a diplomatic passport can rape, commit a crime and get away with it, and foreigners may mistreat and abuse women.

What a pity our country is governed by those who cannot protect our people from abuses committed by foreigners right here in our own homeland. Government officials would rather invoke laws to allow an assailant to escape responsibility for his crime rather than find ways to give a rape victim justice, the culture of impunity further shielded by diplomatic immunity.

What could be worse than this?

The dignity of all persons must be protected at all costs. Laws and policies must serve the purpose of defending the lowly, protecting the violated and ensuring justice. But when the so-called “diplomatic immunity” is being invoked to free the offender, what justice awaits the victim?

Freeing Shcks shows how this country has fallen short in defending its sovereignty and pursuing justice.
It’s more fun in the Philippines. Diplomats and anybody can come and visit here, commit crimes and then leave scot-free. Impunity guaranteed! Trust the DFA.

—NORMA P. DOLLAGA,
Kasimbayan Women’s Collective,
kasimbayan@yahoo.com.ph

Liham ng Ina

Ipagpaumanhin mo anak
Ang buhay nating payak
Kung magkaminsan pa nga
Ay kulang pa sa sapat
Hayaan mo na sa ‘king paglingap
Malaman mo na ang pag-ibig ko ay ganap.

Siguro naikukumpara mo ako sa ibang ina
“ Sana sila na lang ako,” minsan mong ring nasabi
Nagtatampo ka sa akin pag di ako umuuwi
Sa mga panahong di mo ako palaging katabi
At sa yakap at yapos parang laging kapos palagi

Katulad mo, nais kong ring palagiang kapiling kita
Ikuwento sa iyo ang mga alamat at pabula
Makipaglaro sa iyo sa bawat oras na gising ka
Purihin ang sining ng iyong mga nilikha

Katulad mo, nais ko ring habulin nating sabay ang mga tutubi
At huwag ng dumating ang saglit na wala ka sa tabi
Nais kong masilayan palagi ang iyong mga ngiti
Habang inaaral natin kung ano ang matuwid at mabuti.

Alam mo aking anak
Nais kong itala sa puso at isipan mo
Na ang minsan at minsan na madalas
Na ako ay di mo mamalas
Ay sapagkat ako ay may tinatahak na landas

Kasama ko rin ang maraming ina
At sa iisang mithi kami binigkis at nagkakilala
Umaasa kami sa bukang-liwayway ng paglaya
Ang katarungan ay ganap na mananig na.

At sana paniwalaan mo ang simple kong salita
Ang naisin at pangarap mo ay di ka naman nag-iisa
Inaasam din iyan ng aping mangagawa at magsasaka
Mga basurero, katulong sa ibang bayan, at mga dukhang sang-laksa
Ngunit ang lipunang salat sa katinuan at katarungan
Ang anumang pangarap ay may katumbas na pananagutan
May panahong ganap mong mauunawaan
Na kailangang isangkot ang ating buhay at isipan
Sa paglalatag ng mailiwalas na kinabukasan.

Anuma’t anuman ang maganap
Lagi mong itala sa dibdib
Na ang pag-ibig ko ay higit pa sa sapat
Na ang pangarap mo at ng nagmamahal mong ina
Isang araw lahat ng bata , ina at ama ay magkakasama
Di na sila paghihiwalyin ng gutom at sigwa
Pagkat ang katarungan ay naganap na.

Ang tulang liham na ito ay kalakip na luha
At sa pangamba ay di ako makawala
Isa lamang ang aking hiling
Na sana huwag mo sanang isipin
Na ako ay pabaya habang di kita kapiling

Kung di man mapigil ang tampo sa akin
Buong buong ko itong uunawain
Patuloy pa rin kitang susuyuin
Mamahalin hanggang matupad ang pangarap natin