Nap Time Rocks!

By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. - Proverbs 29:4

He wipes away the sweat from his forehead, trying to calm his nerves. He takes a deep, but quiet breath and closes his eyes momentarily. They cannot see him. The putrid stench of the gutter, the flickering lamp post, and the chilling air does nothing to slow down his heart beating ahrd in his chest. He opens his eyes again when he hears a flutter of wings overhead. Just bats. Calm down. He slides further down against the wall covered with grime, not minding that his expensive designer garb is now just a filthy rag. All the prestige just went down the drain.

After convincing himself that he has put enough distance between his pursuers, he composes himself and brushes off a cockroach that has somehow found his leather shoes comfortable. He is no longer disgusted at the grime and dirt that now clung to his skin. Nor was he repulsed at his sins of amassing ill-gotten wealth anyway. But somehow, at this point in his life, he is willing to confess to anything in exchange for a warm bed and clean clothes on his back. He had not signed up for this.

One week earlier, 8 p.m.

The night had not carried on as expected. The social dinner that had been hosted by tax payers’ money, would have been perfect. P1,000 per plate meals, immaculate linen all over, and shining crystal glasses held by bejewelled hands. Except that his new rival decided to ruin the night by being too cocky. He was a distinguished member of the “elite” as much as this rival was and it could not be helped that he was close to the President.

He was working his usual charm when, this slightly intoxicated rival of his slithers up to him and says that they need to talk privately. His companion’s Patek Philippe diamond-encrusted watch glitters obscenely under the lights. He realizes there was really no choice, so he nods. He follows the black suit towards another room adjacent to the ballroom where the lights were dimmer and the furnishings bare. He stood behind a badly-painted table in the middle of the room and waited for his new adversary to make his point. Conversations like these were often long but meaningful, thus the secrecy. But they seldom ended in concurrence between the conversing parties.

“The president has told me you had other plans?” The older Patek Philippe guy asks. He wears a look of deadpan seriousness.

“What other plans?” He ever so slightly fidgets with his cuffs.

“I need not elaborate, padre. You know what I’m talking about and I’m not about to let you take this lightly. You know the stakes.”

“I know what the stakes are, and I’m playing it to my advantage is all I’m saying. With all due respect sir, I’m just trying to correct a mistake I should’ve avoided a long time ago.”

The old guy grunts. “You know there’s no way you can get out of this unscathed! What are you trying to do, be self-righteous when we both know how dirty your hands are? This is bulls**t!” The alcohol begins to take some effect.

“If that’s what you call it, then I will gladly take it. Just as long as me and my family can be let out quietly. I know this is cowardice to you, but I no longer care. Not about the money, not about the prestige or the title. It’s just not worth it anymore.” The younger guy calmly explains while sizing up his competition.

“If that’s how you want it, then. Sayang ka, kid. There are more to be explored, if you will only be more patient! You don’t know how we work here.”

“I don’t care.” The old guy pushes past him and exits the room without saying another word. But not before he could throw a threatening glance at the younger man.

As soon as the door closes the young man, who is better known as a congressman to his constituents, bowed his head in resignation. How long had he imagined this would happen. He knew that sooner or later his sins would catch up with him and it would be unforgiving. Now, he has opened Pandora’s box.

12.30 a.m.

The cool night air helped clear his head as he stepped out of the hotel’s double doors. The valet brings up his car and ushers him into his expensive black sedan. He tips well and pulls out of the driveway in a hurry to get home. The congressman speed dials a number and waits for the other person to pick up at the other end of the line.

Somewhere on the other side of the city, a phone rings and a very disgruntled man answers. He does not like getting roused in the middle of the night.

“Hello.”

“Padre, sorry to disturb you. There’s just something you need to know about our boy here,” slurs a familiar voice.

“David?”

“Yes. I told you even before he’s not going to hold under the deal. He’s giving in to the media pressure and we might just have a mess in our hands before you have coffee tomorrow morning.”

“This is not good. What are you proposing, padre?”

“I say we follow protocol. The president can’t afford another publicity stunt like this, and honestly, I don’t either.”

“I’m going to call my lawyer tomorrow, ok? Do what you have to do.” Obviously the more senior of the two, the latter has spoken with such authority that already signaled the end of the conversation, and the unfortunate David.

The senior’s cell phone rings as soon as he puts down the landline. “Yes, David?”

“Tito Mon, I hope I’m not calling at a bad time.” Our congressman carefully tests the other voice on the phone.

“It’s ok. What’s wrong?”

“I’m being forced by my conscience to come clean. But I’m just worried that I won’t be the only one to take the toll. I’m afraid for my family.”

“You do know that your political career is also going to end if you do this? A piece of advice, Dave. You’re young. You’re talented. You’ve got strong back ups. There’s more than enough to support your campaign for the next 5 years. Why now? And besides, it’s not just your family. Do you realize the people you will be implicating in this issue?”

“That’s not how I’m planning it to happen. I just want to make a quiet exit, everybody wins. But I need assurance too from the administration.”

“You’re smart enough to know that’s not how the game is played, Dave. You’re going to spark a lot of speculation if you resign your post, what with the issue still hot with the media. And besides, the opposition is not going to let you off just as easily. Don’t do this, from a friend.”

“You’re not really giving me any choice,” Dave says heavily.

“You’re right. Because you don’t have any. You’re in this as much as everyone else is. That’s how it is in this business. You should know that by now.”

“Thanks anyway. Goodnight, Sir.”

“It’s your choice.” Click.

The following morning, various media vans crowded the Congress compound. Camera men and reporters were muscling their way for a prime spot right outside the entrance waiting for the carnage to appear.

Click. A high-lens camera flashes.

“Sir, why the sudden resignation in the middle of the investigation?”

Click. Click. The crowd gets tighter around the entourage.

“Congressman Dave! Has the administration have anything to do with your resignation?

Click. Click. Click. The congressman drowns out the deafening questions.

“Sir does this signify your intent to join the prosecution? Will you be testifying against the administration?”

Click. Click. Click. Click.

“David, are you finally trying to absolve from your sins?”

—–

He was not disgusted then, when he recieved a sizeable amount to favor another. He did not turn away when the first bribe was made. He had not realized his sins would catch up now. It may have been a small amount of money compared to the hundreds of thousands, even millions, made by his colleagues, but how it had eaten up his conscience like a hungry termite to wood.

Now he was crouching in this dark alley, with fear in his heart and anxiety for his family’s safety, not knowing if he would live long enough to see the next morning. Now he was paying the high price of doing the country a great favor. He had had good intentions that’s why he became a law maker. Temptations have always challenged him, but now he is resolute that it is no longer worth it. Many have been getting away with it for too long and in the past week amidst the media carnival around the most controversial political issue of the decade, he has heard the cries of many of his fellow countrymen for justice.

A vehicle’s hum startles him and forces him back to the situation at hand. He had to get out of here and make it to his family. If they haven’t gotten to them first. The fear gripped him tighter.

He had only managed to escape the ambush because he had sent away his bodyguards for an unexpected errand. He had stayed behind his office to be fetched later since late nights were not uncommon to him. After 40 minutes without word from Jun his guard of 10 years, David started to worry. He calls them on their cell phone and immediately speculated when nobody answered after 3 tries. Cell phones were never left unanswered, especially if it was him calling.

Perhaps the perpetrators realized that their target was not in the vehicle. A thud in the outside hall alerted David that he was not alone in the building even it had already been vacated at 5 p.m. by employees this afternoon.

He pulls out a steel bat he always keeps in his office for no particular reason. He hears a knock on the door but no one calls out which makes him more suspicious. Out of instinct, David quietly slips behind the door in case whoever was outside decides to come inside. He was right. The door eased open and a heavy-set man followed by another entered the room. Realizing that they were alone, they drew their automatic guns out and approached the large mahogany desk by the window. These were obviously no ordinary men with clear intentions to eliminate a hindrance. David realized that it was him. With their backs to him, David crept up to the door to make a quiet escape since he had no intention to go against 2 gun-wielding men.

He had barely slipped out when one of the men sensed his movement and made a quick dash to grab David.

“Hoy!”

David ran as fast as he could towards the exit. He passed by the guard lying unconscious by the door. He did not stop to check if he was ok because he knew he wouldn’t be just unconscious if the goons caught up. Only a few meters were his advantage over his pursuers and he made good distance once he was outside. The great city hall loomed behind him as he ran for the nearest exit. Unfortunately fo him, they were already closed. He quickly made his way by the side of the annex building where he knew he could easily lose them. There were enough alleys in the back to make through later on.

David felt for his cellphone in his pocket but in his hurry, he had left it on his desk. He managed to slip through a gate and ripped off a button on his shirt. The armed men could not risk open firing at him to avoid any curiousity from anyone who might happen to be nearby. Once out of the compound, David zigzagged his way through the small shanties at the back of the great city hall and found himself crouching beside a dumpster.

Perhaps his would-be murderers realized that they could not pursue him so they resigned their search till another plan comes up. David makes it home after another hour in that alley. In the morning, headlines will read that the life of the prime witness in the grandest scandal involving the President and some of his allies was attempted at. More speculations will spread against the administration, bringing down its defenses more. Some people will call for a revolution. Some will turn a deaf ear out of exasperation. But someone will take a stand before millions of Filipinos and say,

“Today I stand before you no longer as your congressman, but as a fellow Filipino. I am a citizen whose life has been truly altered by the numbing corruption that has taken over our government as if it was a norm rather than a crime. I have witnessed how greed has taken over many good intentions, even myself included at some point, and how it has killed many aspirations. And I will tell you that it is not something that I would like to live with for the rest of my life. I have committed a sin against my country, but more so against God whom I took an oath before, to serve and protect. But I have also asked for His forgiveness, and I am hoping to recieve the same from you.

Now, I am paying the price for telling the truth. For finally serving my country in the highest form. And I do not regret it. Not if it means that it will be a way to open the eyes of many of my fellow government officials and employees to the malignant tumor that has crippled our country. Not if it means justice for every tax payer who pays his dues expecting results from our leaders. Not if it means a radical change in the way we think, how things are done, and what to expect from our leaders.

Our leaders. I hope that this will not just be a bump in the road for your careers. It is not just a job. This is our service. Please wake up to the fact that there is a serious reassessment to do as for our values. We have totally lost them for the sake of prestige, favors, power, money, greed.

To the powers-that-be: I know that attempt at my life means that you are seriously considering my silence in this issue. I will no longer bear it alone. Let the people be the judge and see what dirty tactics money can buy in order to ensure your place in the high heavens. Please, let me be judged by the very thing that our heroes have fought for.”

                                                                    ———

Author’s comments: This is also in support of the Lozadas, especially Mr. Jun himself, who dare challenges the powers-that-be. Please Madam President, prove how genuine your service is for the country. We are all tired of putting up with all your (and your little cronies’, big and small) crap.

And forgive the lame references to the cliches (i.e., dumpster in the alley).  Hehehe.

Avaritia, def. - Latin. reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins). Also avarice, greed, rapacity, covetousness

Deadly sin, mortal sin - an unpardonable sin entailing a total loss of grace; “theologians list seven mortal sins”