A national embarrassment

President Benigno S. Aquino III was reported to have complained to a high-ranking official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines  that he was not too happy with the pastoral letter the bishops issued on Monday at the end of their annual January conference.  I do not know exactly what the official said.  But a less charitable or less diplomatic bishop would probably have said, “Sorry,  son, but making you happy was farthest from our thoughts.”

The nation, not just the bishops, has every reason to be pissed with this president.  He has become a national embarrassment.  After spending P49 million on a  Swiss junket, exclusive of the $160,000 in fees paid by his Cabinet members just to attend the 43rd Davos World Economic Forum, where he spoke more to his own 63-strong entourage than to anybody else in the small, ill-attended breakout session of the Forum,  he came home to tell us tall stories about imaginary mega investors rushing  to make the Philippine economy grow beyond its modest target.

Then trampling once again on the long defiled separation of powers, he admonished the senators, like their true lord and master, to stop their feuding over cash transfers and buckle down to work as though he himself had anything to teach them about work.  He asked them to pass so-called important bills, without mentioning  those which the public believes are truly important to the nation, like the freedom of information bill.

Then  he called on the bishops to “forgive” Carlos Celdran, a well-known poster boy for reproductive health, who had created a scandal inside the Manila Cathedral during an ecumenical service  last year, and who has just been sentenced by a Metropolitan Trial Court to jail. Like the conscript media, Aquino forgot to inquire if  the bishops had anything  to do with the case,  that the jail sentence was still subject to appeal to a higher court, and that he (Aquino) and not any bishop, is the only one who could “pardon” his fellow RH supporter, if and when his sentence became final and executory.

The heavily funded RH propaganda machine has been mobilized to denounce the law used against Celdran as archaic and obsolete, and his conviction as a threat to human rights and free speech, and Aquino has  allowed himself to be used by the same.  Did Aquino ever wonder what could have happened to that RH poster boy if he had  performed a similar act inside a Moslem mosque,  a Jewish temple or  a local Iglesia ni Cristo place of worship?  And yet Aquino chose to wade into the affair without any sign of thinking.

As the young readers would say, it really sucks, mate.  After two and a half years in office, there is no sign that our machine-elected president has understood the true meaning of presidential character or conduct,  that the presidency is not merely a decorative thing but a serious job, and that Malacañang is not at all to be confused with a play station.

In what it called a “litany of storms,” the CBCP lamented: the promotion of a culture of death and promiscuity; the continuing corruption and abuse of power; the widening practice of political dynasties;  the issues raised to the Comelec on automated election which, if not properly addressed, could lead to wholesale cheating in the May elections; the inability and unwillingness of those in power to take the road of social justice (new “rights” are being pushed while the most basic rights are being ignored!); the deepening culture of impunity (the government lacks the political will to touch powerful people and prosecute the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, unsolved crimes and kidnappings); the unabated suffering of the poor (in spite of bright economic ratings, there is little inclusive growth).

By Francisco S. Tatad

The CBCP denounced the passage of the RH law, the political and financial pressures imposed on lawmakers, and the imperialism exercised by secularist international organizations in the legislative process.  It pledged support for the laity in challenging the RH law before the Supreme Court, and “other venues within the bounds of our democratic system;” urged the laity to elect competent and morally upright candidates faithful to their “correct and informed conscience;” and vowed to act against moves that are destructive of family and life.

The bishops did not say everything. They merely scratched the surface.  But at this point Aquino seems to enjoy trust and support  from Filipinos abroad who seem to use rose-colored glasses when looking at his administration. They seem to find everyone venal and blameworthy except the President.

In my inbox is a letter from one Mike M. Moreno of Richmond City, B.C., Canada, who says he is chair of Fil-Am Fil-Can Alliance, a US and Canada-based NGO, suggesting that Aquino “sign a proclamation abolishing or temporarily closing down Congress”. It is quite understandable, from a certain perspective.

But Aquino does not have that power, even with his virtual control of the three branches of government. That would require a revolutionary government. But if there were to be a revolutionary government, I believe Aquino should be the first one to be separated.

fstatad@gmail.com

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/01/a-national-embarrassment/