Many Singaporeans were (still are) perplexed at the Filipino outrage over the Contemplacion case; even Fidel Ramos called Contemplacion a heroine. My uncle has his own theory.
A couple of days before Contemplacion was executed for the murder of Delia Maga, a fellow Filipino domestic worker, and her charge, 4-year-old Nicholas Huang, all the taxis in Makati seemed to have the radio on at full volume. His cabby explained that a congressman was in court for rape, victim being an under aged girl whose sexual services he procured for a few pesos from her step-father. After eluding the authorities for several months, he was finally in the dock, but everyone was resigned to just a slap in the wrist for the well-connected politician. So when the congressman was convicted, the whole city erupted in jubilation. The system can be breached, justice can be served!
Since the execution had gone ahead despite a personal plea from Ramos, President of the Philippines, the Singapore government was targeted as the next evil system to take down. The Alex Boncayao Brigade, a Communist terrorist group in the Philippines, threatened to harm Singaporeans. Even the Catholic Church in the Philippines condemned the execution.
Not too long ago, Anton Casey was hounded out of the country for his insensitivity to local sentiments. Some see this a Pyrrhic victory, since the sins of the father should not be visited on his son, or Miss Singapore wife.
Now, the owner of a red Vespa is facing the wrath of another vendetta. This time over a section of asphalt at Temasek Boulevard. Will he hightail it out to Vietnam, where his company is headquartered? Or will he stand his ground, and claim his right to the roadway? Bear in mind, the entitlement spelt out by prime minister Lee Hsien Loong:
A couple of days before Contemplacion was executed for the murder of Delia Maga, a fellow Filipino domestic worker, and her charge, 4-year-old Nicholas Huang, all the taxis in Makati seemed to have the radio on at full volume. His cabby explained that a congressman was in court for rape, victim being an under aged girl whose sexual services he procured for a few pesos from her step-father. After eluding the authorities for several months, he was finally in the dock, but everyone was resigned to just a slap in the wrist for the well-connected politician. So when the congressman was convicted, the whole city erupted in jubilation. The system can be breached, justice can be served!
Since the execution had gone ahead despite a personal plea from Ramos, President of the Philippines, the Singapore government was targeted as the next evil system to take down. The Alex Boncayao Brigade, a Communist terrorist group in the Philippines, threatened to harm Singaporeans. Even the Catholic Church in the Philippines condemned the execution.
Not too long ago, Anton Casey was hounded out of the country for his insensitivity to local sentiments. Some see this a Pyrrhic victory, since the sins of the father should not be visited on his son, or Miss Singapore wife.
Now, the owner of a red Vespa is facing the wrath of another vendetta. This time over a section of asphalt at Temasek Boulevard. Will he hightail it out to Vietnam, where his company is headquartered? Or will he stand his ground, and claim his right to the roadway? Bear in mind, the entitlement spelt out by prime minister Lee Hsien Loong:
"Singaporeans, new arrivals, people who are on permanent residence here, people who are on employment pass here, all participating in one big Singapore family... So that we feel that this is a place which is special, which belongs to all of us and where we all celebrate one another’s festivals and happy events together."