This is two days late, but the message stays relevant.
President Benigno Aquino III turned 55 over the weekend, amid what could be the greatest test of his political life. We imagine that the President had difficulty celebrating what should be a milestone: growing more erudite, not just older. After all, the backlash of the deaths of 44 young men from the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police has given the nation plenty of reason to depict him as none the wiser.
The past few weeks have highlighted that the nation is facing a crisis of leadership, and this is because of a president who believes he can do no wrong, that his friends can do no wrong, that everything is about him, and that those who are critical of him are out to sabotage his efforts along the much-hyped straight and narrow path.
In a series of public addresses, Mr. Aquino has shown he has much to learn in terms of reaching out and offering compassion to the grieving. Throughout his sheltered life at the hacienda, he may not have had the occasion to commune with the less fortunate, much less empathize with their tribulations. At 55, he may learn that the most effective way to help the poor and the downtrodden is to imagine how it must be for them.
The President has also lamented that the Mamasapano issue had caused him to let go of his friend, suspended—and now resigned— PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima. In his speech Friday evening, he told the nation how his friend had always been there for him for many years. Last year, when Purisima was being accused of corrupt acts, Mr. Aquino as if by instinct jumped to his friend’s defense. This is the same police official who said, hilariously, that his participation in the previous meetings was limited to listening and offering advice—nothing more.
This same behavior is nothing new to us. We have seen how Mr. Aquino proved a loyal friend to those within his circle. Now that he’s older, perhaps he may reconsider this penchant to stand by some people at all costs, just because they are who they are.
Finally, Mr. Aquino, who has always championed the tenets of transparency in governance, needs to allow his actions to live up to his words. This President once vowed he would make Freedom of Information a priority; to this late date, the bill has yet to be passed.
Moreover, he needs to be forthright about his participation in the whole Mamasapano operations. Yes, he made a sweeping acknowledgment of his responsibility as father of the nation, but this is by virtue of his position and not because of decisions he may have made in relation to the mission. Yesterday’s Senate hearing brought to surface more questions than answers, such as why a meeting had to be held at the President’s residence, with Purisima in attendance and saying they would inform other officials at a later point. If this were true, then Mr. Aquino knowingly and willingly broke the chain of command.
As President of the land, he should have been wiser than this, or at least owned up to his actions.
Mr. Aquino has another year ahead of him, his last full year before he steps down. Let’s hope against hope that he wisens up.