“All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” — St. Matthew

MANILA, Philippines — The atmosphere is getting uglier and nastier. While the unprecedented hate campaign spreads, the nation is staring into the abyss of self-destruction by self-flagellation.

This is the precipice where the country is unwittingly and recklessly headed towards with Chief Justice Renato Corona as the “bête noir” of the administration. As far as President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s personal obsession is concerned, the Chief Justice symbolizes everything that was corrupt and evil in the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime.

First, the hate campaign of the administration is playing to the public gallery while pliant mainstream media proprietors are consciously fanning the controversy into a populist frenzy.

Be that as it may, the “shaming,” the humiliation, the trial by publicity, and the dehumanization of Chief Justice Corona, and, by juxtaposition, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, are aimed at preparing the minds of the public towards conviction by publicity in view of the learned perception of lawyers that the manner, the alacrity, and the substance in filing the Articles of Impeachment are deemed generally and legally weak and infirm.

Thus, the incarceration of PGMA and the removal of the Chief Justice, assuming guilty beyond reasonable doubt, will be, at best, a pyrrhic victory and ego-trip for President Benigno Aquino.

On a worst-case scenario the nation will be divided down the middle towards a political catharsis, or the President could speed up the death of the former President, her spouse, and the Chief Justice as they all suffer from hypertension and serious ailments.

Second, never in recent memory, have we seen a nation at war with itself.

Since President Aquino’s ascendency into power, he has triggered crisis after crisis, where he fights against his predecessor, assuming for valid reasons and against the Chief Magistrate, for whatever reason.

For example, the nation’s highest leaders are fighting against each other which is counter productive; the military is disarray over corruption; insurgencies remain unabated; democratic institutions are being shaken from their foundation; “Daang matuwid’’ remains a buzzword without effect; and a Chief Executive who is not hands-on.

Ironically, while President Benigno Aquino believes that what he is doing will strengthen democracy and cleanse the system of corruption, his style of management rubs the people the wrong way which will eventually alienate and isolate him from the very sectors that catapulted him to power, such as, the military, business, the professionals, and the intelligentsia.

Further, as added aggravation, the Left, and its satellites, are riding on the coattails of President Aquino whether the latter is aware of it or not, or is naively playing with fire.

Maximillien Robespierre of the French Revolution who had said that “The King must die so that “La Patrie” (the country) can live” was himself executed by counter-revolutionaries. This can apply and remains relevant at any age, and in any country that is at war with itself such as the Philippines today.

When all is said and done, former President Arroyo and Chief Justice Corona will not change history and will soon be forgotten.

On the other hand, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, to avoid being the victim of his own misadventure, must moderate his vindictiveness so that “La Patrie” can live.

You be the judge.

(For comments and views, please e-mail: chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)