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Friday, March 29, 2024

A beleaguered presidency

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As President Aquino begins to wind down his presidency, his administration is beleaguered in many fronts. Instead of preparing the nation for a smooth transfer of power to whomever will be elected as the next president, he is busy ensuring that his anointed successor wins the election at all cost. This is the same thing that his predecessor tried to do and look at where she is now—in detention. 

President Aquino is committing the same mistake. The President wants everyone to believe that his administration is turning over a government with less problems than what he inherited. It is in fact exactly the opposite. He is turning over a government to his successor with more challenges and too many unfinished programs. 

The Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of 44 SAF personnel is being resurrected and continues to haunt the President personally. This situation that he is in is of his own making. For the first time in our history, a President participated in the planning and conduct of a tactical combat operation. I agree that there are so many unanswered questions as to his participation and no matter what he does, he cannot sweep this under the rug. Even if the motive to reopen the Senate hearing is political, it is immaterial so long as the truth comes out. 

Instead of showing leadership at the Villamor Air Base after the operation by meeting the remains of his men whom he sent to their deaths, he was shown frolicking in the inauguration of a car manufacturing company. That was his first serious mistake. Another is when he scolded a senior SAF official questioning why the operation was mounted on his mother’s birthday. Senator Enrile’s remark that there are new information that have surfaced is cryptic. Although he did not elaborate, he must be in possession of new information that can incriminate the President. The Palace is certainly nervous. Maybe the senator has a “deep throat” coming from the Palace itself who provided the so-called new evidence. If so, this could be the beginning of the end for President Aquino. 

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The Commission on Elections is a powerful government agency in the country especially during elections. It can control the whole machinery of government and the seven members of the commission can only be removed by impeachment. It is not actually unusual for members of the commission to have serious differences but this is normally hidden from the prying eyes of the public. This commission, however, is different. Four months before the May 2016 presidential elections, it is in disarray. And contrary to media reports that the hatchet has already been buried, the differences seem to be a lot deeper and far from being resolved.

The country cannot afford a Comelec with senior members squabbling in public before an election. It does not only affect the confidence of the electorate that the Commission can conduct the often-abused phrase of fair and honest election but will also open the commission to interference and pressure from powerful people in the country. 

The differences between Chairman Bautista and Commissioner Guanzon do not seem to involve differences in the interpretation of law and the rules that govern the administration of the Commission but are personal. Commissioner Guanzon seems to be openly challenging the legal competence of the chairman to interpret the law. 

Every administration tries its best to appoint allies to the Comelec to ensure favorable decisions for administration candidates in any election. Commissioner Guanzon is a Liberal Party loyalist while Chairman Bautista is a true-blue yellow army soldier. 

If the difference of the two is about legal interpretation, this is tolerable.  But if the squabble is about something else like division of the loot, then this is something worrisome. The corruption that goes on inside the Comelec is not as well publicized as the corruption in the police, Customs or the DPWH. This is because the Comelec is not as exposed to the public as these government agencies. But talk to any politician and they will tell you that there is nothing free in the Comelec. 

There is this  true story about a commissioner who has since retired that just to get an appointment with him would cost a lot.  If  he agrees to do what you want, the charge will be different. There was also another commissioner, also now retired, handling a protest case. He accepted money from both parties to the case which goes to show that there is no such thing as honor among thieves. This commissioner made millions and is now in happy retirement.

How about our current crop of commissioners? Are they as squeaky clean as we are made to believe? For instance, did they decide on the disqualification of Senator Poe without any pressure or bribe from anyone? One would hope so, although based on experience, and what I learned in the conduct of the 2010 elections, I doubt this very much. I know that a lot of people also believe in the honesty and integrity of the current chairman but being a loyal follower of the President, it is hard to believe that he would not comply if asked to do something simply because President Aquino is struggling to get his anointed successor elected no matter the price. He is also a president who does not leave anything to chance.  

So for starters, has President Aquino been calling Chairman Bautista about election-related matters? It would be nice to get an answer from the good Chairman.

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