Not to be judged

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‘At a stage in Revilla’s life when doom and despair seem more real than before those who do not wish him well should now realize that the passing of Revilla will virtually end any effort to recover the alleged loot.’

PEOPLE become unmerciful and unkind in confronting other people and their sins, rarely separating one from the other. But God has commanded us to hate the sin and to love the sinner, which is a near impossibility under man’s laws.

Bashers of Sen. Bong Revilla went to town calling for the recovery of P124 million that he allegedly received as kickbacks instead of seeking or hoping for his recovery from COVID-19. We would have thought that people had taken it with less personal affront against him.

The night after I prayed for Revilla’s healing with his DZRH announcer-friend I was again struck by the thought that Jesus Christ does not judge wrongdoers, even as he, hanging on the cross, had assured one that he would take him with him to heaven.

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There are innumerable like them because thievery has become a historical and a dreadfully common practice brandished by the top leaders of this land. Spending time behind bars should have been the object lesson for Revilla that Jesus is more real than his crime and ambition. And his release from jail and renewed political life should now bring remorse and transformation. Will politics still blind him to see that his loving Savior, Christ, gave so much to him?

Personally, I asked myself, even in a profession that breeds contempt for many corrupt and abusive public officials who I was to judge Revilla. Indeed, our culture of unrestrained violence that nurtures the mockery of the law and criminal impunity for high crimes has nurtured gloating over the misfortune of others. In addition, only those who steal less from government pay the price. Many were brought up not to wish evil on others and yes, the Bible teaches that we should answer evil with good. The senator’s condition worsened when he contracted pneumonia and was making a personal video appeal for prayers while gasping for precious breath.

Looking back, I knew I had stolen from the broadcast network that was my second home for 20 years. I would often pad my overtime hours and regularly filed fake receipts for the liquidation of my large travel expenses abroad. Many employees were similarly engaged in such malpractices and it was unthinkable for anyone to be a whistle blower. I was a thief and only God had saved me from myself.

At a stage in Revilla’s life when doom and despair seem more real than before those who do not wish him well should now realize that the passing of Revilla will virtually end any effort to recover the alleged loot.

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Publisher and friend Philip Lustre writes that it was a mystery why Cory Aquino and son, Noynoy Aquino, in their formidable positions, had not pursued to uncover the mastermind of the Aquino assassination. Was the secret that probably Cory took to her grave was the truth that the Aquinos and the Cojuangcos, as well as their long-time allies, could not handle? With Danding Coquangco gone, would there be more room to ferret out the truth?

That Washington seemed strangely detached from the planned “homecoming” while the world watched and watched was also a mystery. US intelligence seemed convinced that Aquino had close communist ties but had kept mum about it especially when he was preparing to come home. Until today, no one could fully explain why he was the only Liberal senatorial candidate who showed up at the Plaza Miranda rally after it was bombed in 1971. Despite the reported persistent threats to Aquino’s life, the Americans did not take any sufficient efforts to stop him or strongly appeal to the Marcos regime to protect and secure him.

He was not an American boy, after all.

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