Filipinos have not earned the right to be the first to see the Mendoza hostage report

Not surprisingly, Malacanang's plan to submit the report on the August 23 Mendoza hostage incident to the Chinese government before it is released to the Filipino public, drew a lot of flak. The 83-page report of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) chaired by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima which detailed findings on the circumstances surrounding the hostage drama that resulted in the deaths of eight foreign tourists looks like it was "made for China when it should be made primarily for Filipinos" gripes Senator Joker Arroyo. To highlight the point further, Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan chimes in, "We have to avoid perception that we are catering to the dictates or pressure from a foreign country. Common objective is transparency, whatever the sequence of disclosure".

Perhaps. But the question I pose to my countrymen is this:

Have Filipinos earned the right to a first crack at this report?

According to Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, the Palace was "giving the Chinese the first crack on the IIRC report out of 'courtesy' considering that their nationals were the victims in the bungled rescue attempt".

Now here's the kicker and the context around which we will attempt to answer the question I posed earlier. Senator Arroyo in his response to Carandang retorts:

But what about the courtesy to the Filipino people? Was the report intended for China or the Filipino people? The obligation of the government is to the Filipino people and to no one else. Why is the Filipino is [sic] the last to know?

Let me ask you this Senator Arroyo:

If Filipinos were the first to know about anything about what ails them for that matter, what are they gonna do with that knowledge?

The fact is, Honourable Senator, Filipinos have always had first crack at the information that details everything that is wrong with their country. They live and breath the underlying and most fundamental of dysfunctions that most likely underpin the findings in Secretary de Lima's report. Indeed, it is a safe bet that what is in that report will not surprise most Filipinos. We've known that sort of stuff for decades. And despite that, we have done nothing to improve our lot. The fact that eight foreign tourists are now needlessly dead today is a testament to the decades-long collective inaction of the Filipino -- even in the face of confronting truths about their character.

Be a sport and give the Chinese Government first crack at the IIRC report on the Mendoza hostage tragedy and subject it to its evaluation and stamp of satisfaction. There is no point in subjecting such a report to the "evaluation" of a people renowned for their pwede na yan ("that'll do") mentality. It is best that we offer it, head bowed in contrition, to the government of a society that is at least going somewhere.