The Covered Gym

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

The Covered Gym

 Barangay officials have the right to protect government properties in their respective turfs. But restricting medical mission from using the gym for the benefit of their constituents is a rare instance.

Never has there been a city ordinance or law that suggested to do this before. Now this is a common scenario in areas where medical mission are being held mostly by opposition candidates.

There were also reports that barangay officials restricted the entry of water-tank trucks to distribute drinking water in their area. Same is true with the distribution of breads by the opposition candidates to the poor.

I find no valid reason for this deprivation of basic needs and health services to constituents by barangay officials, except, their acquiescence to the political pressure of administration candidates to do so.

What really matter in this issue is the forcible stopping of the goods and basic services to the lowly people of the barangays. The expenditures for all these things-for-free came from a private person, not government money.

There may be counter argument against the glaring truth of this repression as a matter of course. But that is no longer our interest. Protecting government property is imperative for barangay officials. But in this instant case, cui bono - for what good, for what purpose and for whose benefit?

The free-consultation and medicine, safe drinking water and bread which they failed to provide are now a reality being enjoyed by the poor. In that case, they must set-aside the good views they all share for the meantime!

To deny the use of barangay covered gym for peaceful assembly of constituents is violation of both civil and human rights. The 1987 Constitution has repeatedly reminded us that;

Civil Rights - protects individuals from unwarranted government action without discrimination or repression. If that right is interferred with by another person or agency (including the government), it gives rise to an action for injury.

It has also something to do with human rights that help protect everyone from political, legal and social abuses. These are right and freedom of religion and the right to engage in political activity among others.

Those are inherent rights of the people deliberately violated by the repressive acts of some barangay officials. One final note with regards to prohibition in the use of the covered gym by residents;

Under the Constitution, Civil Rights include the “freedom of speech, press and assembly; the right to vote, freedom from involuntary servitude and the right to equality in public places.”  A covered barangay gym is a public place!

They did not inquire because they knew nothing about it. Now I hope they do. They should know that it is only for “heartless-spooks” that what they did was good. Remember, “the abuse of right has concomitant obligation.”