We know whereof we speak when we claim that next to food, the need for medicine is priority in man's laundry list. Our heart-rending experience with the 20-year operation of the "Inyong Alagad" over sister radio station DYRD, wherein we dispense money for medicine and minor operation for indigent patients tell us so.

In this Third World country, it is not uncommon for poor people to simply die without seeing a doctor or getting the proper medicine. Station DYRD passionately sustained this humanitarian endeavor in "Inyong Alagad" precisely because of this sad reality.

It therefore saddens us more in the Fourth Estate, that instead of focusing on the positive side of community volunteerism, the issue of the "Botika sa Katawhan" has been politicized shamelessly.

Doubtless, the "Botika Sa Katawhan," is a project which has has helped a lot of our less fortunate brethren. But, due to an initial political squabble between the friends and foes of Mayor Dan Lim, the suspension of the botica was effected. The minor concern of the Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration (BFAD) is legitimate but can very well be addressed by the men behind the botica.

Objectively, the public thinks the laudable project shouldn't be stopped. The Sangguniang Panlungsod has voiced out its stand calling for its reopening. But, it seems the Lim administration is still hoping to hear a more resounding clamor, thus a walk and rally was held last Friday. The crowd which came was big enough to reconfirm that people want the botica to reopen.

It is, of course, an open secret that the crowd at the Agora market was literally brought in by the leadership of the barangay captains identified with Mayor Dan Lim.

Each barangay captain was allegedly given a quota of 200 resident/beneficiaries of the program translating at least into 3,000 men covering 15 "allied" barangays. Be that as it may.

But, what seemed somewhat immature was the use of the caricatures of Kagawad Djingo Rama and Kagawad Edgar Kapirig in the streamers which branded them as "anti-poor." Perhaps these guys may just have wanted "transparency," for all we know.

That may have somewhat weakened the moral aspect of the rally because of the political undertones. This is the game of politicians. But, we in the Fourth Estate always stand as keen observers and at the end of the day rally behind the dictum of batting for "the greatest good for the greatest number." We are sure the public likewise agrees.

To date, no free medical program in the entire province has been as effective as the botica in terms of dispensing free medicines to the poor. We commend the private initiative of City Deputy Mayor Mario Uy. His civic mindedness since he was an active Rotarian remains in him and has found apt expression in this one-man project of the botica. His donors, mostly from then United States are making the volume of free medicines unbeatable in terms of quantity and availability. That no one can deny.

We also know that with this botica project, provides ample public relations mileage for Mayor Dan Lim (as it helps the poor masses) thus, the public can hardly expect Mayor Lim to say anything unpleasant to his Deputy Mayor who has sacrificed much for the project. Lim also knows (as every politician in his place would) how this botica project will bring him closer to the people up to the 2010 polls.

But after the rally, what's next? If it takes that rally to let the people feel that there is an insistent public demand (like extending a box office hit movie), then let it be the "good excuse" to reopen the botica under a new name as BFAD will not allow the use of the word "botika" since it would connote selling of drugs.

The airlanes over the past weeks have been filled with pros and cons of the botica closure. The public has heard enough and we expect the botica to finally be reopened.

One cannot argue against success.

But maybe it's the right time to depoliticize this well-meaning social endeavor by converting it into a purely private initiative.

If it's completely a private endeavor (insulated from public scrutiny) it should be moved outside of City Hall premises, thereby strengthening its claim to be a "purely private" undertaking. The only reason why critics of Mayor Lim can legitimately question this project is the fact that the manpower support is funded by the city government and the office of the botica is at the City Hall.

It is a pity that politics has been injected and marred the otherwise wholehearted nobility of the objectives of Deputy Mayor Uy and the unqualified support of Mayor Lim. The public appreciates this civic mindedness and government support.

But perhaps, politics being what it is in this country, both will be more appreciated if the botica will reopen with the financial support of exclusively privately initiated fund raising campaigns. It may have to rent its own outlet and pay overhead for its manpower support.

This is the only way that Mario Uy can never be required for an auditing of his botica funds and the project can go on smoothly without tinge of political doubt and suspicion of inappropriately using government funds for popularity gain.

We are certain Mayor Lim merely wanted to collaborate with the private sector in a wholesome community undertaking like the botica by offering an available space and funds to support the staff of the project.

But sometimes, we must appreciate, that in this highly contentious political milieu, good intentions are sometimes not good enough.

If this will be for the betterment of all, privatizing the whole botica efforts could be best for the city. Anyhow, people should know what was in the Mayor's heart when he stepped into the project.

Let us depoliticize this noble project for the greater good of the city we treasure.

THE FUTILITY OF SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH

The Dictator Ferdinand Marcos used all the state power of a police regime to stifle dissent, intimidate the critics, murder his rivals and suppress the truth. After 20 years, he flew in disgrace with his family as a maligned exile in Hawaii in 1986.

The Government cannot do it then; it cannot do it now. It is like stopping the wind from blowing, preventing lava from spewing out of an exploding volcano, of putting back toothpaste into the tube.

All those who participated in fighting the Dictator are reminded of the same tactics today.

A vital super witness is kidnapped. EO 464 and Executive privilege prevent bureaucrats and officers from getting at the truth of the Hello Garci and ZTE-NBN scandal. Seeding operations in the clouds are made to create artificial rain on rally dates in Manila.

Buses of protesters are stopped at the North and South entrances to the capital.

Endless yarns of infiltrators disrupting rallies are spread. Bomb scare in schools with fora for truth is propagated. Terrorist plans and assassination plots found in parking lots are bandied about. Recruitment of military dissenters is made a headline story.

Media and opposition phones are wiretapped. "No Fly" zone is declared over a huge rally site. Public schools ban the appearance of "truth" witness. Cameras are planted at "strategic areas."

And remember over 800 men and women are dead - with hardly any resolution of the crimes. Any Senate investigation is called by the Press Secretary as "in aid of grandstanding" while forcing the issues to be settled in the Courts. The Courts being the Ombudsman chaired by a biased classmate of the First Gentleman and a DOJ run by a man who does not have many redeeming attributes. And a Comelec that is without computerization and whose record in election competence is bannered by names like Abalos, Garci and Bidol.

But let all of these come to pass. The Day of Reckoning - as it always does - will come.

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