Paalam Joker Arroyo

If there is one Filipino politician I have always seen as clean and honest, it is none other than Joker Arroyo. A simple man who tried to do his best in the circumstances he was in, amidst the ubiquitous corruption that is Philippine politics, Arroyo was a long time politician that was never corrupted by money, power or indeed, politics itself.

According to news reports, he never travelled abroad on taxpayers money, had only three staff (a driver, secretary and legislative assistant) and most recently, was one of only three senators who did not vote for the impeachment of former SC Chief Justice Renato Corona, and who incidentally, was also one of only three senators who did not receive the PHP 50 million bribe for said vote.

The Philippines needs more Joker Arroyo's - simple, honest, and dedicated to public service. He never advertised himself as the savior of the masses, nor did he portray himself as a politician dedicated to public service - nay, he lived the life of one who lived for the public good sans the self-serving mantras of traditional politicos who display their names and likenesses in publicly funded buses, ambulances, schools, roads, bridges, buildings etcetera.

Isang matinong Filipino, isang dakilang mamamayan, isang matapang na abogado ng mga naaapi. Paalam Joker Arroyo, ang iyong paglingkod sa bayan ay hindi makakalimutan ng mga tulad kong nagsusulong sa isang Pilipinas na maunlad, malinis, at pantay-pantay.

Paalam Joker Arroyo, naway maging tanglaw at inspirasyon ang iyong buhay sa mga kabataan ngayon para sa isang kinabukasang salat sa kahirapan, pang-aabuso at kurapsiyon sa pamahalaan.