ShareThis
Aug 13, 2010
Barely a month into office, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III started to do what he promised during the last presidential elections. Swept to victory on his vow to stop corruption and eradicate poverty, Noynoy proceeded with the task of purging the remnants of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s corrupt administration.
Indeed, the purge is a requisite if Noynoy is to succeed in implementing the change he promised the voters. And the voters expect no less. One, two, three… Go! First he signed Executive Order No. 1 creating the Philippine Truth Commission of 2010 to look into the anomalies during Gloria’s presidency.
Then he issued Executive Order No. 2 firing all Gloria’s “midnight appointees” in the executive branch of government. According to presidential legal counsel Eduardo de Mesa, Gloria made 977 appointments during the constitutional ban on midnight appointments from March 10, 2010 through June 30, 2010. And finally, he signed Executive Order No. 3 which nullified Gloria’s controversial — and unlawful — Executive Order No. 883 that she issued last May 28 which automatically promoted government lawyers to the rank of third level Career Executive Service Officer (CESO III). In three swift acts, Noynoy began the tedious process of cleansing the government of the vestiges of corruption which were systematically institutionalized during the nine and a half years of Gloria’s reign. While it is presumed that many of them were honest and hard-working employees, the process of rooting out the “bad apples” requires a great deal of research and thorough investigation of their performance under Gloria’s watch.
The Big Task Noynoy has the big — and daunting — task of replacing Gloria’s appointees with people who share his vision of a corruption-free government. While it is probable that some “bad apples” would get through the maze of the bureaucracy using layers of contacts and influence peddlers, Noynoy should make sure that those in his inner circle and in the top echelon of his administration should — nay, must — “pass through the eye of a needle” before they are hired.
Noynoy must avoid getting into a similar situation like when Gloria’s friend and newly appointed Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez issued a ruling within four days of Gloria’s ascension to the presidency in January 2001 — to turn over to the Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (IMPSA) the controversial contract to rehabilitate the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan power plant in Laguna. Perez and his wife were later exposed by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for allegedly taking a $2 million kickback for the hasty approval of the $470-million contract. Since then, Gloria’s administration was stigmatized by the Perez corruption scandal and a slew of other allegations of corruption involving Gloria and her husband Mike Arroyo. And no matter how much Gloria tried to project herself as “incorruptible,” she was ultimately branded the “most corrupt president in Philippine history” — an ignominious distinction that she would carry to her grave whether the Truth Commission vindicates her or not.
The Big Challenge Noynoy’s selection of his alter egos to promote his vision of “Pagbabago” (Change) could become the golden laurel of his presidency. However, it could also become a thorny crown that he may have to wear in his “Calvary.” In essence, Noynoy can only be as good as his subordinates. To date, most of Noynoy’s selections of cabinet members and top administrators are notably excellent. However, three of his appointees have been criticized for various reasons.
His appointment of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to head the Truth Commission is the subject of blistering attacks from the media and a number of leaders from the civil society. The biggest issue against Davide was his close relationship with Gloria whom he had sworn in as president to replace then president Joseph “Erap” Estrada while the latter was still legally in office. The question is: Does Davide have the objectivity and passion to investigate and prosecute Gloria? The second is Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo whom Noynoy reappointed amid objections from many sectors including members of the foreign service department. And the third is former Tagaytay City mayor Francis Tolentino whom Noynoy appointed as chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Tolentino was accused of plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman two days prior to his appointment. He was accused by Pastor Ronald Tan, his former executive assistant, over ownership of several hotels and other businesses which he allegedly acquired while he was in office from 1994 to 2004. Tan also accused Tolentino of amassing P500 million in ill-gotten wealth during that period. Noynoy’s immediate reaction was to dismiss the accusation as “simple harassment.” Tolentino called it “nuisance black propaganda.”
While it can be argued that Tan’s accusations were politically motivated —Tan lost to Tolentino’s brother Abraham in the last Tagaytay City mayoral election — it is grave enough that it shouldn’t be taken lightly. In the political world, “black propaganda” becomes real if not proven otherwise. Sen. Manny Villar realized that — albeit too late — when he unsuccessfully ran for president against Noynoy. The question is: What if the accusations against Tolentino were true? And what if Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez would — gleefully — accede to the request of Tan to suspend Tolentino as MMDA chairman? Perception is reality With an 88% trust rating, Noynoy should make all efforts to maintain the people’s high trust which he built and reinforced in the 12 years he served his constituents as congressman and senator. But the reality of life is that what’s built in a lifetime could erode quickly.
Gloria is a good example: She was elected vice president in 1998 with the highest electoral vote for that position. But once her popularity started to diminish, it was downhill from there on. The rest is history. While Noynoy has the right to purge the government of Gloria’s midnight appointees, he should also exercise the same prerogative to remove his own appointees who could cause irreparable damage to his presidency. Politics is all about perception and in people’s minds, perception is reality. Noynoy has 100 days to create a positive perception of his presidency. He came to office with the highest trust rating in Philippine history. He should strive to keep it that way… lest history might repeat itself.
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)