Pearl Of The East | ✓

Chapter 38

I let the chirpings of the crickets envelope my ears while the moonlight were gently bathing my body. I heave a sigh and nail my hands at the surface of the terrace’s barricade.

Jolo and Sulu are at peace now. The military troops successfully keep a hold of those terrorists. But I still can’t help but to think if what if? It became more worse than what happened? What if huge numbers of casualty are recorded? Will this soul of mine can still bare all my failures?

Hinayaan ko na lang ang sarili kong malunod sa mga isipin. Ngunit nakatanggap naman ako ng isang tawag mula sa Heneral na may berdeng mga mata kaya’t ganoon na lamang ang mabilis na pag-iba ng emosyon ko.

Alam kong sinusubukan n’yang pagaanin ang loob ko, at nagtagumpay naman s’ya nang minsang kumawala ang mga totoong ngiti sa aking labi. Naiisip ko tuloy, kung paano kung wala s’ya sa aking tabi?

What if I don’t have a General like him? Magagawa ko pa kayang i-ahon ang sarili ko mula sa nakaraan at sa mga lungkot at pagsisisi sa sarili na naramdaman ko?

Magagawa ko pa kayang ngumiti nang tunay, at masilayan ang totoong ganda ng Pilipinas? What if I don’t have him? Can I still extend my fragile hand to those who need some to hold with?  Marahil ay hindi...

Hanggang ngayon ay tinatanong ko pa rin ang sarili ko kung paano ko nga ba nakuha ang atensyon ng Heneral na may berdeng mga mata? Gayong naiiba ako sa mga karaniwang babae.

I’m not that feminine and hot. I don’t wear sexy clothes that will surely attract men. I don’t do make-ups and I don’t even know how to tie my hair in a sophisticated and elegant way.

I’m just a simple woman who prefer holding guns while trying to show that humanity still exist. Than holding a handbag with thick make-up, and glistening stilettoes while walking in the red carpet with the spotlight nailed on my direction.

I’m just a woman with desires to serve justice and make this country a better place. Yet the handsome and hottest green-eyed General fell on my pit without me premedetating a trap for him.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong pumasok upang dumalo sa isang cabinet meeting. At umikot ang usapan tungkol sa nangyari sa Jolo at Sulu kahapon ngunit nang papatapos na ang pagpupulong ay bigla na lamang inanunsyo ng isang senador ang tungkol sa mga na-detect na mga Chinese vessel sa loob ng West Philippine Sea.

I carried my weight and stood boldly while nailing my hands at the table’s surface. I can’t help the frowning of my brows.

“It was detected few months ago. Ayon pa nga sa Philippine coast guard at ng iilang Pilipinong mangingisda ay itinataboy sila ng mga Tsino. Hindi rin sila hinahayaang makahuli ng isda,” came from Senator Escuber. I want to cuss out of asphyxiation overwhelming my system.

“Bakit ngayon mo lamang ito sinabi? Ilang buwan na ang nakalipas?” Pilit kong pinapakalma ang boses ko ngunit hindi ko pa rin maitago ang nararamdaman kong inis.

Nahawaan na ba sila ng mga taong hangin ang laman sa utak kaya’t sa simula pa lang nito ay hindi na nila sinabi? At ngayon pa na kung saan tumagal na ito ng ilang buwan? Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako saka muling bumalik sa pagkakaupo.

“It began during the past administration. It was 7 months ago,” he explained. Gusto ko s’yang pabalang na sagutin. Ngunit pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

“Did the former President know about this?” He shook his head.

“Fvck!” Hindi ko na napigilan pa at kusa na lamang kumawala ang mahinang mura kong iyon. Ngunit hindi ko na inabala pa ang sarili kong humingi ng despensa.

“Ayon sa nakakataas ng Philippine coast guard ay nag-aalalangan silang isapubliko ito. They thought they could keep a hold on those Chinese vessels, they don’t want the citizens to be enthralled with this kind of issue.” I want to laugh sarcastically and tell them if what’s the point that they are trying to convey? When the fact is that, all they did is pointless!

Isang folder ang lumapag sa harap naming lahat. Sabay-sabay namin itong binuksan at naglalaman ito ng mga kopya ng mga kuha ng mga Chinese vessels na namamalagi sa west Philippine sea. Hindi lang tatlo ang bilang nito kung hindi ay apat hanggang lima. At bihira din ang laki nito.

“What’s the situation senator? Na sa loob pa rin ba ng West Philippine Sea ang mga Chinese vessel na ito?” Tumango s’ya sa sinabi ko, dahilan para maikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko.

“And don’t you have any plans regarding to this?” Tanong ko sa mga myembro ng kabinete na kanina pa tahimik.

“Kinausap at pinaalis na po sila ng Philippine coast guard ngunit hindi po sila nakinig,” dagdag pa ni Senator Escuber. Hindi na ako nagulat pa kung bakit ganoon na lang ang mga Tsino pagdating sa West Philippine Sea. West Philippine sea is rich with oils and crudes. There’s a lot of minerals on it.

“Okay that’s it. I’ll talk to their President tomorrow. Adjourn,” I said firmly and edged my way out of the conference room. Afterwards, I commanded Zalysha to set an appointment with the China’s President.

What they’re doing is very wrong. West Philippine Sea is Philippines’ territory and getting minerals from it without informing us is an act of invasion.

“Ma’am tomorrow at 6 in the morning you’ll be flying to China,” tumango ako sa sinabi n’ya.

“S’ya nga pala ma’am here’s the update for the case of that police,” wika n’ya saka inilapag sa mesa ang isang folder. I grabbef it and began to wander on it. Kusa na lang akong napangiti. The investigation is done, and he’s proven guilty.

“Na sa Muntinlupa na po s’ya ma’am,” tumango ako sa sinabi n’ya. The victims’ family will be surely happy on this.

“Alright, I want him to fully pay his debt Zal. He killed two persons. Isn’t that inhumane? Tell the authorities Zal, I’ll give him the death penalty,” I firmly said. Hindi nababakas sa boses ko ang kahit na anong emosyon. Yes I do help people but I can be heartless sometimes.

I once said it before that after the further investigations on his case. If he’s proven guilty, then he needs to suffer the death penalty. And I’ll stand on my ground no matter what. Hindi ako pinalaki ng mga magulang ko na walang paninindigan.

“Are you sure on this ma’am?” Nag-aalangan n’yang tugon. Tumango ako sa kan’ya habang pinapaikot sa daliri ko ang hawak kong pluma.

“Yes,” I answered firmly.

“But the Commission on Human Rights will surely oppose you on this ma’am. This will create a huge issue,” hindi na ako nagulat pa sa sinabi n’ya. I’m aware of the consequences. I’m aware that the CHRÑ will meddle on this. But the hell with human rights! He killed those victims brutally, and that was beyond inhumane. And where’s the human rights on that? He fvckin’ deserve to die!

“I don’t care about that Zal. Wala akong pakialam kung ano pa man ang gawin nila ukol sa desisyon ko. As long as the justice is served evenly,” marahas kong naibagsak ang kamay ko sa mesa.

I have seen the agony in mang Emilio’s eyes. I have seen how devastated he is as well as his family. And I know how it feels if you won’t get the justice that you desire. I promised to him that I will give him the justice that his son and wife deserves. And this is how I serve justice. I want it to be even. That damn police killed mang Emilio’s son and wife. Thus, he deserves to suffer the ferocity of the beautiful lie in life—death.

“Electrocute him,” I said firmly. Agad na gumuhit ang pagtataka sa ekspresyon n’ya gayong wala namang kaibahan sa ibig-sabihin ng sinabi ko kanina ang naging tugon ko ngayon.

“But ma’am ---“ I cutted her words off. My decision was fixed.

“No but’s Zal. I ordered electrocution for him that’s it. Can you please bring me some tea?” She hesitantly nodded and edged her way towards my office’s door.

Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa pagpipirma at pagbabasa ng mga papeles, nang magsimulang tumutol ang emosyon ko sa desisyon ko. Ayaw kong maging mahina. I don’t want to be that weak in giving a fair justice.

Nang makabalik si Zalysha ay agad na akong sumenyas sa kan’ya na isapubliko na ang iniutos ko. Buntong-hininga lang ang isinagot niya. I let the tea bath my throat while my hands are grabbing my laptop.