Is it illegal for the party to distribute cash gifts?

Is it illegal for the party to distribute cash gifts?

Arnulfo Yu Laniba

Agape Foundation (Agasoft)

December 4, 2007, Badbad Oriental, Loon, Bohol (Philippines) - When the conscience of media and the people became too strong a pressure and unbearable and ‘conviction’ seemed to be the fate of the much-criticized cash gifts of P500,000.00 allegedly given to each congressmen by Malacañan, it took one talented young senator in the person of Migz Zubiri to silence all critics including the veterans of the Senate such as lawyers Kiko Pangilinan, et al.

I saw new Senator Zubiri on TV during their televised Senate hearing asked repeatedly a simple question that put every one else tongue-tied. He asked: “Is it illegal for the party to distribute cash gifts?”

“Is it illegal?” he repeated. Nobody could answer. Everybody was tongue-tied. Silence ruled the moment which seemed eternity.

And when no one dared to answer, he gained momentum and repeatedly challenged not just everyone in the Senate but also those of us in the nation watching him: “Is it illegal? Is it illegal?” he was heard and seen asking the same question repeatedly as the scene faded leaving the Filipino nation hanging up, the people groping for the answer.

For the moment, Senator Zubiri seemed to have succeeded in justifying Malacañan’s multi-million bribery. It seems that the issue has been resolved by that one stroke of the genius from Bukidnon.

At first, I had my great respect to this guy surnamed Zubiri because of his daring campaign for environmental protection.

But when someone from Bukidnon made an honest revelation about the alleged land grabbing by his politically powerful father who has been holding high political positions (e.g., governor), my respect for him began to wane. This friend confided to me that land grabbers would use false war or would initiate fake armed conflict using the military to cause a quick vacation (read: abandonment!) of a coveted area by the occupants who owned, inhabited and cultivated the land for a long time as their ancestral domains or inheritance.

I do not ascribe the sin of the father on the son. But I am afraid it will be the same story, like father like son. I pray it would not be.

Now I want to put the young Zubiri to task by letting him to answer to our people the following words, not of my own, but by Jehovah, the God of Israel who later became Jesus Christ (Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58), to wit:

“See how the [once] faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her – but now murderers! [By their pro-rich laws and by their heavy taxes, they murder the poor people slowly!]… YOUR RULERS ARE REBELS [to My government and laws], they are companions of [white collar] thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. [Worse], they do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them” (Isaiah 1:21-23).

Are these not most alive Scripture to describe our present officials today?

If he says those are mere Old Testament antics and so therefore are obsolete words (as the Church would deceitfully have us to believe), let him realize that it was Jehovah who said those Words and that this Jehovah-who-became-Jesus was the “I AM” of the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14) and the “I AM” of the New Testament (John 5:58) and that the name “Jehovah” is written as “YHWH” in the Old Testament and that the Greek name “Jesus” means “YHWH is the savior of His people or children,” thereby proving the solid truth that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament.

Furthermore, let him get reminded, I am sure he is a Christian by religious profession, that this Jehovah-who-became-Jesus is said to be “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, HIS WORDS ARE IMMUTABLE AND CONTINUE TO BE IN ACTIVE MOTION UNTIL THEY ARE FULFILLED, e.g., become the practice or the norm even if it means the dissolution of the present earth and heaven (atmosphere) (Matthew 5:17-18). Jehovah’s almightiness and determination cannot be hindered by anyone: His Word will get fulfilled. His purpose shall stand.

“I am God and there is no other, I am God and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose shall stand, and I will do that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill My purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.”[1]

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out of My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”[2]

What Jehovah said will continue to get enforced!

Therefore, let Senator Migs Zubiri answer the following words from God:

“YOUR RULERS ARE REBELS [to My government and laws], they are companions of [white collar] thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. [Worse], they do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them” (Isaiah 1:21-23).

It is not illegal to give bribes? Yes, it is not. But that is a wrong question. The right question Senator Zubiri should have asked is this: IS IT RIGHT TO BRIBE?

IS IT RIGHT TO BRIBE?

The following eternal words from Jehovah’s Scriptures shall answer that question once and for all:

“Do not accept [or give] a bribe because a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8);

“A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live” (Proverbs 15:27);

To the bribe asker: “Extortion turns a wise man into a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:7a)

To the bribe recipient: “And a bribe corrupts the heart” (v. 7b)

Since the Holy Bible or Word of God prohibits these two acts (giving bribe and accepting bribe), therefore these are moral and spiritual sins.

With regard to sin, the Bible states that “the wages [penalty] of sin is [spiritual] death” e.g., in hell (Romans 6:23);

The wise King Solomon further said that only “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach (or source of regret or downfall) of the people” (Proverbs 14:34)

Since, all forms of bribery leads to something wrong, such as “blinding the eyes,” thus, nobody will see where is the safe path away from dangers and nobody could detect the entry of, say, evil candidates to control our government and to rob our treasury, and the strengthening of their evil supporters through gambling, drugs and illegal arms syndicates and flesh trade; “twisting the words of the righteous,” thus, subjecting the people to live in lies and deceits, “bringing troubles [i.e., miseries and difficulties] to one’s family,” “turning a wise man into a fool,” “corrupting the heart,” thus, resulting to many sectors neglected or unloved, and above all, “causing downfall” of the nation;

And since only by “hating bribes can we live”, that is, peacefully, prosperously and lastingly and since only “by righteousness can we become an exalted nation”, that is, progressive, great, prosperous,

Therefore, bribe is evil, wrong, wicked and should be avoided.

THE ONE-MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION NOW TO MIGZ ZUBIRI IS: IS IT RIGHT TO BRIBE?

If he has a conscience as soft as by being an environmentalist, as he publishes he is, then he can answer it correctly. But if his profession of being an environmentalist is not at heart, then, he is like what he is: fake Christian like almost all politicians.

I wonder why we, who profess to be true Christians are allowing these fake occupants in our halls of power to linger in the offices where they can do much damage and abuse to the people! Or are we fake like our leaders too?

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[1] Isaiah 46:9-11

[2] Isaiah 55:10-11