The arrest of the two senators of the Republic in the person of Senator Bong Revilla and Senator Jinggoy Estrada recently and the inevitable arrest of the former Senate President, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is a demonstration that justice is alive and at work in this country. The above personalities are very much powerful and highly influential yet the iron-hand of justice is strongly demonstrated in this respect.

However the Filipino nation is still looking forward to the arrest of more than one hundred influential personalities involved in the PDAF scandal. And the Filipino people wanted to see that these who are in power whether they belong to the opposition camp or the administration party shall be held accountable before the law. There is no doubt in the mind of this writer that this administration is serious enough in running after those who are involved in the PDAF scandal. The recent development in this matter proves how sincere this administration in dealing with matters relative to graft and corruption. As a matter of fact, the hospital arrest of the former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the filing of cases against the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato C. Corona is sure evidence of the sincerity of the Aquino administration with its fight to end graft and corruption in this country.

Nonetheless, the credibility and integrity of the Aquino administration in its fight to end corruption will depend on its attitude and dealings with those people involved in the PDAF scandal who are politically ally with the administration. At the surface, it seems like an invisible hand is working to single out those people who belong to the opposition camp. It seems like two standards of justice are being applied. One standard is being imposed against the opposition and another to the ally of administration. Unless and until the Filipino people could see influential personalities inside Malacanang Palace, cabinet members, senators and congressmen who are allies with the sitting President being arrested like what they are doing to the three opposition senators, the integrity and credibility of the Aquino administration in so far as graft and corruption is concern shall be badly affected.

In the language of Senator Miriam Santiago, in her comments on the tragic death of then General Angelo Reyes ending his life by suicide, she said, “Kung lahat-lahat ng mga matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno na nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan ay gagaya kay General Angelo Reyes, sa palagay ko, kukontin alangang matitira.” In my opinion madam Senator, none shall remain alive if they will emulate, on the ground of corruption, the late General Angie Reyes.

Our collective appeal to the Aquino administration is to continue with its war against graft and corruption and apply the full force of the law to anyone involved in this scandal regardless of their political party affiliation. Selective justice by reason of party affiliation is not justice at all Mr. President. If the hand of justice is aimed only at the political enemies to demolish political opposition because of the upcoming presidential election in 2016, then this is the worst kind of injustice. Political persecution and prosecution done in the name of fighting graft and corruption, yet political allies with the sitting President involved in PDAF scandal remain untouched is indeed evil and not acceptable by the Filipino people.