Judas deserves public respect more than Datu Sarip Agwak et al do

History has twists and turns that can transform Judas Iscariot, maligned in Christian salvific juncture, to a character more worthy of respect than a slew of humans like today’s dramatis personae behind the stage show titled Local Public Transport Route Plan. 

JI at the end is remorseful for betraying Jesus. His seared conscience no longer permits him to walk in public in the company of the Disciples. He commits sepuko. Better die with honor, goes the samurai code.

The LPTRP achieved all things except the ultimate goal of public carriage that is, making public commuting safe, convenient, efficient (least costly but speedier).

Through the LPTRP, Datu Sari Agwak and his caboodle (better still, “ka budol”) in the Yrong-Yrong Anti-Business Club whose members don’t commute, and the Public Safety and Transport Mismanagement Office, have attained the opposite which is to make travel costlier, inconvenient and longer.

They hurt not only provincial PUJ operators and commuters; they hurt their own people even more: commuters, businesses especially in areas of the Terminal and Jaro Public Markets and the downtown area. By jacking up travel costs, consumers must spend more for the erstwhile cheap products that they used to pick in public markets.

The LPTRP that Datu Sarip Agwak et al designed only makes businesses of Andrew Tan (AmigaWorld), the Ayala’s (PestibWok) and the Sy (SM Citi) hubs or terminals of public rides that disgorge shoppers, assuring them of super-profits.

While store owners in old downtown and public markets weep, their bigger counterparts in the favored de facto hubs of public transport, cheer as their sales shoot up beyond outer space.

Sarip Agwak et al of course deny it and will deny it to death that they deal under the table — they receive gifts, in cash or in kind — for rushing the traffic design that skirted public consultations and are lopsidedly and heavily tilting in favor of Big Business at OUR expense.

We can’t blame the public for their dirty imagination and outcry that Datu Sarip Agwak et al betrayed them for 30 pieces of silver.

Judas in the end is remorseful: he cast the 30 pieces of silver on the ground strewn on the feet of members of the Sanhedrin, source of the blood money.

We don’t see the remorse in Datu Sarip Agwak et al but only the patay-mali stand that they do hold public consultations and do consider the routes suggested by stakeholders but rejected by the DOTR.

They still strut around feigning innocence of the shameless crime. They have yet to answer the queries of Aksyon Radyo anchor JPT: if indeed you consulted, name the representatives of sectors you invited and attended these public consultations.

And may I hasten to add: show us copies of the DOTR decisions disapproving the routes you submitted if indeed that department decided on your applications.

Datu Sarip Agwak his ka budol at the Yrong-Yrong Anti-Business Club and the Public Safety and Traffic Mismanagement Office, can present none.

They remain unrepentant, they keep on avoiding the queries. Judas Iscariot is deserving more of public respect than they do.