Kamaganak Inc. vs Hyatt 10?

As I See It
by Neal Cruz
from Philippine Daily Inquirer

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100604-273707/Kamaganak-Inc-vs-Hyatt-10

The infighting has begun among the supporters of Noynoy Aquino even before the presumptive president-elect can assume office. It always happens, the fight over the spoils. It is like pirates fighting over looted treasure they buried, or Mafia gangsters fighting over territory for their vice dens. Alas, Noynoy’s forces are no exception, and if the future president does not put his foot down now and enforce discipline among his followers, his administration could be destroyed by his own men sniping at one another.

Principally, the sniping is believed to be between members of the Hyatt 10 (the 10 Cabinet members who resigned from the Arroyo administration and later threw their support behind Noynoy) and members of Kamaganak Inc., the same relatives that acted like termites in the administration of Noynoy’s mother Cory. Members of the Liberal Party, Noynoy’s party (and that of Mar Roxas and his father and grandfather) make up another group. And there may be other groups who think Noynoy owes his victory to them and therefore are entitled to part of the spoils.

Maybe Noynoy is taking refuge in Hacienda Luisita to escape from all of the “friends” whispering in his ears like mosquitoes to appoint so-and-so to this and that position. I understand the situation that he is in now. To save himself future problems, he should swat the pesky mosquitoes now by telling them in no uncertain terms not to torture his ears.

President Joseph Estrada tried it during his inaugural address with these words: “Walang kama-kamaganak, walang kumpa-kumpare (No relatives, no godfathers).” Nonoy should try, this early, something similar.

He has had problems with his youngest sister, the terribly conceited and talkative Kris, but she is harmless compared to the other Kamaganaks lurking in the wings: the Cojuangcos, the Aquinos, the Lopas, the Oretas, the Sumulongs, the Tanjuatcos, etc.

I think Noynoy should have a heart-to-heart talk with his relatives and tell them to leave him alone and stay away from Malacañang and his government. Even if they mean well, the public will look with suspicion on any meddling of his relatives in government. The meddling (and influence-peddling?) of relatives in Cory Aquino’s administration is still fresh in the minds of the people.

The people voted for Noynoy because he promised change and an end to corruption. His relatives should not make him fail by meddling.

* * *

The first victim of this infighting among Noynoy’s supporters is The Firm, the law office that helped the administrations of President Fidel V. Ramos and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but resigned from the latter over policy differences. Kamaganak Inc., and Kaklase Inc., and Hyatt 10, all positioning themselves for juicy posts in the second Aquino administration, see members of The Firm as a stumbling block. The most prominent of these attacks against The Firm was the media blitz of former Solicitor General Frank Chavez accusing the law firm of positioning itself in the Aquino administration, in particular, former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo.

Both have denied any interest in returning to government, which is too bad because the two were admired during their stint in public service, enjoying high trust ratings despite serving in a hugely unpopular Arroyo administration. Marcelo won major cases in the fight against corruption. Cruz (no relation) is widely credited for instituting major reforms toward a more professional military. Cruz and Marcelo had the decency to quit their posts when their differences with Arroyo became irreconcilable.

While handling the defense portfolio, Cruz plugged corruption in the military and launched a reform program that until now serves as a roadmap for the transformation of the military. Marcelo, working with the late Haydee Yorac, recovered P61 billion in ill-gotten wealth during his brief, 20-month stint as solicitor general. At that time, this was more than double what had been recovered in all of the 16 years of existence of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

Currently president of the Philippine Bar Association, Marcelo remained non-partisan throughout the elections. He filed suits to question the midnight appointments of Chief Justice Renato Corona and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit. These suits, filed in defense of the rule of law, were meant to give the next president an opportunity to counteract the stumbling blocks left in its wake by the exiting Arroyo administration.

Their actions thrust these prominent lawyers back into the spotlight they shunned when they retreated to the quiet comfort of their private practice in The Firm.

* * *

Pampanga is claiming the first freedom martyr in Tarik Soliman (who died in the Battle of Bangkusay in Tondo on June 3, 1571) eclipsing Lapulapu who killed Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521 and survived the battle.

But it was another Kapampangan, Capt. Lazaro Makapagal (a relative of GMA?), who led the Katipuneros who executed Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio on Mt. Buntis in Cavite. It was also cabalens from Macabebe who helped American General Funston capture President Emilio Aguinaldo in Isabela. President Diosdado Macapagal was the father of Philippine land reform, but his daughter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is the most hated Philippine president ever.