¿Vox populi, vox Dei

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by JSGershom

by JSGershom

The people have spoken. But did God, too?

As early as 2 hours before midnight yesterday May 9, it was getting clear that former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM for short) had won the presidential elections. By a mile, that is, more than 2x the votes garnered by the second-placer.

Vox populi, vox Dei. This dictum is often abnormally used (hence, "abused") as a theocratic scapegoat to circumvent the letter of the law including our sacrosanct Constitution. But used properly and in keeping with the laws, it becomes a powerful approbation as in a Mandate of Heaven.

Of course, the KakamPinks and others will cry foul over the son of a former dictator getting anointed as president. Either it is a fortunate reversal of fortunes or a cursed irony of ironies. Yet barring proof of massive cheating and failure of the elections, or even the much-debated systemic disinformation/historical revisionism campaign by BBM loyalists, it seems the Filipino people have been good to BBM. Perhaps they have forgiven the son for the "sins" of the father. If so, we are a very forgiving people indeed!

Now if this were true, we model after Jesus, as the face of God's mercy, telling the adulterous woman: "Go and sin no more." What if heaven has given BBM this chance to redeem the Marcos name? (I know, I know I have yet to hear BBM ask for forgiveness or admit to wrongs done by his dad. If he did, I might have voted for him with both hands. Also, what about the estate tax issue against him? Let the courts deal with that.) Anyway and if so, maybe all of us who did not/ will not go for a BBM presidency can restrain the Hulk in us and also give him this chance?

A caveat though: The Mandate of Heaven is revocable. Intrinsic to the concept is the right to rebellion against an unjust ruler. In Chinese political philosophy, a successful revolt is an evidence that Heaven had withdrawn its mandate from the ruler who is deemed unworthy. This presupposes us, the people, being eternally vigilant as Thomas Jefferson once said is the price of democracy.

Still, maybe we can ask what the theologians think. Fortunately, I chanced upon the FB post of Fr. B. S.J., my professor in Moral Theology:

"Does "Vox Populi, Vox Dei" (The Voice of the People is the Voice of God) apply to the present Election results? We can approach it in two ways: positive and negative.

First, it's YES, if the people voted according to their formed conscience. Conscience comes from the Latin word "con-scientia," meaning "a joint knowledge" or "knowledge with." It is the capacity (synderesis) to know and do the good. In the teaching of the Catholic Church, conscience is defined as a holy and sacred place where an individual meets God. In the proper exercise of conscience, the voter should have voted according to his/her knowledge of God's commandments. Conscience, as a sanctuary, knows the divine law, which is fundamentally about loving God and neighbor.

It's NO if the people voted according to fake news, disinformation, historical revisionism, and distortion of truth, or worse, had accepted money from the candidates."