Force of freedom

It is enough that communist insurgents and Muslim extremists continue to drive foreign investors from our shores. It is worse that pea-brained snakes wanting to grab power continue to surround Malacañang.

Filling the headlines last month was a group dubbed Freedom Force headed by columnist Teodoro Benigno, former Tarlac congressman Jose Cojuango, Jr., and Pastor “Boy” Saycon, all prominent leaders of the Council for Philippine Affairs (Copa). The group stands on the premise that should a social explosion occur, which they believe is ripe, the Right or Left could besiege the country’s fragile democracy. Then and only then can the Freedom Force intervene to create an opening for the middle forces, or civil society, to take over power.

However, surprisingly, the same people who wanted to keep the rightists out talked to some generals to obtain their support, but in vain. Police Chief Supt. Florencio Fianza reportedly called up Malacañang to squeal on the alleged plotters immediately after he and Copa leaders met with Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin at the prelate’s residence on April 15, reportedly to seek the latter’s blessings.

Opposition Sen. Blas Ople called Copa leaders as a plain band of frustrated job-seekers, intriguers and mischief-makers. He added that Copa’s call for “collective leadership” to replace President Macapagal-Arroyo was a thinly veiled attempt to get back at her for denying them government jobs that they did not deserve.

Funny as this foolhardy attempt for power grab may be -- now that it has been exposed and crushed -- it does tell the world of how fragile and threatened Philippine democracy really is. This is what prevents foreign investors from building their factories in the Philippines. This is the reason why many remain jobless and homeless.

Copa leaders could help prevent their predicted social explosion from occurring by keeping their big mouths shut, or helping the sorry economy through job generation activities. Can they not look beyond their narrow vested interests and look at the bigger picture instead?

If they really insist on grabbing power, their Freedom Force will have its time in 2004. The people’s collective sentiment as expressed in the ballot is what determines national destiny. It is the only force of freedom worth fighting for. *

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