Lulled

It's Christmas Day.

- ALEX MAGNO

President Bongbong Marcos told us, several weeks ago, that several politicians will be spending Christmas in jail. This, obviously, is not going to happen.

In his most recent telecast, the President was dishing out advice about not eating too much and avoiding stress during this most hectic season of the year. This will not impress the millions who need figuring out how to produce a feast with a P500 budget. He did not try to console those who had to endure the holiday traffic jams — the most serious source of public distress. The only person in detention for looting from public works projects is Sarah Discaya. She is the lowest of the low-hanging fruits. Indicting her for ghost projects is the easiest thing to do.

There are four others under detention at the Senate cell, including Curlee Discaya. But they are there courtesy of the chamber's imperiousness in casually jailing those deemed to have committed contempt.

No one is talking anymore about the most serious suspects once expected to be jailed with dispatch: Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Chiz Escudero. There has been no update about the progress of cases against a score of congressmen.

The highest profile suspect, Zaldy Co, is likely indulging in the best chorizos money can buy. He is reported to be safely in Portugal, far from the long arms of Philippine law. When the distractions of the season clear, he might be expected to continue with his exposés.