Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 20

20
Hospital

"Well, the senator's being roasted," Niko deadpanned, stating the obvious at Caitlyn and I. "That's all I know...Dad doesn't tell me things about the government except if it directly concerns our family. Hindi naman tsismoso tatay ko."

"Of course," Caitlyn squabbled, "Malamang, General siya at graduate pa ng PMA – Courage, Integrity, and Loyalty -"

"Exactly. That's why don't fuss about it at me."

"Baka kasi totoo talaga 'yung allegations? I mean, his past isn't that likable either..." Caitlyn mumbled while trying to reach for her hot tea.

Niko groaned and shot her a glare. "Innocent until proven guilty, Cait."

"But –"

"No buts. That's how it works."

I shut my eyes tightly as I listen to the two of them argue. Senator Santillan has been the topic of their conversation for almost an hour now – because he has been the frontrunner of the news during the past weeks. I could only imagine the horror he's facing at present with all the media digging into his life.

Nagsagawa ng malawakang imbestigasyon ang Ombudsman sa lahat ng miyembro ng gobyerno – looking into all their nets and gross, files, businesses, and everything. It was all part of the national government's campaign against graft and corruption, considering the petition and plan my father endorsed 2 months ago.

It was good at first, kasi halos lahat sila ay pumayag sa imbestigasyon. However, the first few weeks of the proposal were a bit rocky. All the members of the senate were all more than willing except for one senator – Miguel Arthur Santillan. 

Hindi man niya direktang sinabi pero sa bawat hearing na ginawa ng senado, he would always present an argument saying that Papa's proposal was untimely and was not the priority.

But he couldn't do anything about it.

Not when the President herself and the Supreme Court ratified the decision. Mas lumala lamang ang komosyon nang inilabas ang balitang pagkatapos ng ilang linggo ay mayroong nahanap na anomalya sa pera ng senador.

I knew it the moment I heard how he became berserk upon hearing the news – he wasn't expecting it. 

The whole country was shocked as well especially when the senator's history was brought up. Lahat ng pangalan na sangkot sa eskandalo noon sa kaso ng ilegal na droga ay muling naungkat. Others say that the case which was dismissed a few years ago did not undergo a fair process, now that it shows several crumbs in the present.

"It's a revelation that would aim to instigate an exhaustive investigation among all gov't officials," the secretary of the country's department of justice said on one interview. "To discover that corruption gravely exists on today's system is quite disappointing...but rest assured, justice and law would prevail, whatever the outcome and whoever the involved people are."

"What's the progress regarding the case of Senator Santillan, Secretary?"

"It's under investigation. We are treating the situation as a usual case that needs an equally fair and extensive treatment. Everything will undergo the same justified procedures – acquitted of the accusations if innocence is proven, giving the appropriate penalty if proven guilty."

Unless the investigation says otherwise, Senator Santillan deems to be tagged as innocent right now. Everything might look like normal, pero hinding-hindi nakatakas ang mga pangyayayri tulad ng mga maiinit na tapunan ng argumento at sagutan ng senador at ni Papa sa mga nakalipas na hearing para sa gagawing imbestigasyon.