The material fact has Miguel Cruz, a long-time friend of Orlando, as a defendant. During the years that I had the privilege of developing a friendship of steel with Orlando, I met Mr. Cruz. If someone had told me that this would be the murderer of his great friend, he would have taken it as a joke in bad taste. I don’t want to speculate on an ongoing legal case; however, the death of a minister in office who, in turn, had a political career that bore great fruit for our society, should make us all reflect. Orlando was a promoter of leadership that should be recognized over the years.
With more than a month of this senseless tragedy, and leaving aside all feelings, we are left with so many doubts and questions. If this can happen to a humble, patient and honest man, what is the point of public service? Those of us who knew him know regarding his parsimonious actions and, in my particular case, I remember him so much from the 90s. I grew up as a professional by his side, he opened the first doors of politics for me. His advice accompanied that adolescent who later became a professional and political man. During those years the falls were immediate and in each of those falls Orlando was either the first to arrive or the last to leave. His political actions always found him on the right side of history. After thinking a lot, I want to emulate that article by Zola “I Accuse” at the beginning of the 20th century, which put the European society of that time in perspective. We must all think regarding how we assimilate and learn from this event as disastrous as it is unfortunate.
Orlando was killed by everyone who wants a contract without competing fairly in a tender. Orlando was killed by any friend of an official, businessman or leader who requests a salary without the intention of working for it. Orlando was killed by everyone in his family or related who, making use of the power of another, wants to promise what he cannot or sell a dream that will never come true. Orlando was killed by every businessman or contributor to a political campaign expecting privileges or business in return. Orlando was killed by everyone who expects from their public servants shortcuts to their businesses, advantages to their schemes, in short, all those who, simulating entrepreneurship, want to steal what does not belong to them. Orlando was killed by every official or politician who paid or pays loyalties with undue favors, thus giving a bad example of what some mistaken people call being consistent, but which in reality is being an accomplice. Orlando was killed by anyone who criticizes a public action not out of conviction or disagreement but to get some gift. Orlando was killed by the past that does not allow the future that he wanted to defend. Orlando was killed by a way of doing things that dies, but as this sinister proves, he still defends himself with claws and should not be underestimated.
Orlando Jorge, apart from the details of a legal process that will now be another scenario for the past to shoot its arrows once morest a future that will win, will live forever in the hearts of those who loved him, and will live forever in all those we wish a more just society. And since the future is in no hurry to defend itself in more practical terms, let everyone know that Orlando’s memory has teeth and will be defended by the most loyal sentinels. Let’s go!