Deal or No Deal

Mr. Wikipedia gives us the background of the question as follows:” Deal or No Deal is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which (launching the format) was the Dutch Miljoenenjacht (Hunt for Millions) produced by Dutch producer Endemol. It is played with up to 26 cases (or, in some versions, boxes) with certain sums of money. The player chooses a case or a box to knock an amount of money off the board” [see <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_or_No_Deal>].

The turn of events in the pork barrel scam leads us to the question of whether there has been a deal between the primary suspect in the crime and the Aquino administration. Why is the Aquino administration giving special treatment to Mrs. Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged culprit in the P10-Billion pork barrel scam?

The administration has been unusually soft towards her compare to the manner by which it has treated others who were accused of corruption scandals in the past. The public was stunned when she suddenly showed up in the Palace after the President has offered P10 million reward for her capture. Public suspicion was triggered when President Aquino received her personally and conveyed her to the PNP Chief using the presidential car. And to the minds of the public, Mrs. Napoles continues to enjoy unusual privileges from the administration even after her incarceration.

Of course, she should be treated the way any innocent woman should be treated. After all, she has not been indicted for any crime related to the pork barrel scam. As of this writing, the Department of Justice is still determining the nature and numbers of criminal charges that it will file against her, and all her co-conspirators, benefactors and beneficiaries. Witnesses are still being summoned; documents are still being examined. Whistleblowers are still whistling to tell the tales of the stolen billions.

In legal parlance, Mrs. Napoles is as innocent as anyone of us. Even assuming that government would later indict her for Plunder or Malversation of Public Funds or any other crime, she still have to be treated with compassion— the compassion we extend to anybody who is facing criminal charges in court. “Accusation is not synonymous with guilt,” said the applicable legal precept. Unless her guilt is proven by proof beyond reasonable doubt, she is still a free woman.

So, do not worry at all. Stay cool. Whatever special treatment she is receiving now will not affect the court’s capability for an impartial justice. This is how the system goes, theoretically of course. In the meantime, let the public continue speculating whether there was, or there would be, any deal between her and the administration.

The Napoles Affair showcases the game that politicians are playing. Curtly, the contest is not about who’s who or which suitcase or box will bring out the biggest cut. The game has been, and shall always be, about money and power. All the suitcases, all the boxes and all the bayongs contain the same things—money and power. To join in the game, politicians have to kill one another, literally if needed be. This is the most popular game show in town where survivors are sure to have it all as indeed, even in the brink of bankruptcy, the “banker” is expected to offer a deal that can save them from ending up empty-handed.

In one extreme, the unusual privileges accorded to her may be interpreted as an indicium of an unhappy alliance between Mrs. Napoles and her custodians. Unfortunately for them, such partnership never will be justified in the eyes of the public. The public is watching with interest. It is critical and will not be fooled easily. It is seeking justice. Anything less will not do. It is seeking the truth. No other thing will ever be acceptable.

Deal or No deal? Your guess is as good as mine.