By Emil Jurado
I love reading about how President Aquino trumpets his alleged achievements against corruption. It gives me material for my column —I can write about what is in fact happening.
For instance, there is the corruption surge in an administration that claims to tread the straight path.
Mr. Aquino’s most laughable story is the detention of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and three opposition senators. These are supposed to support his claim that he is winning the fight against corruption.
Achievement, my foot! Doesn’t the President know that anybody charged in court is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise?
And what about President’s Aquino’s own allies who are similarly involved in cases of corruption? What is he doing about them? The President defends his friends in the face of incontrovertible proof of wrongdoing. That’s Daang Matuwid for you.
It has been months after it was revealed that Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) Director General Joel Villanueva were likewise involved with Napoles. Nothing has been done.
It has also been awhile since the National Bureau of Investigation found that many of the President’ allies misused their Priority Development Assistance Fund. Again, nothing.
And now no less than the chief of the Philippine National Police, General Alan Purisima, is facing charges of plunder and graft. The President has been quick to defend him.
It seems that Mr. Aquino thinks the people he appoints can do no wrong!
That the President continues to lambast the previous administration because of its alleged corruption is the height of hypocrisy, dishonesty and lack of integrity.
So why doesn’t he just let his problematic people go?
The Aquino administration has a very shallow bench to chose from, it is believed. This is why the President packs his team with his Ateneo classmates, shooting buddies, close personal friends and loyalists.
To me, President Aquino is suffering from delusion. He thinks his people are all angels. It’s an affliction, actually.
* * *
I have been asked if I thought the allegations hurled at Vice President Jejomar Binay would affect his survey ratings. He has been shown as the “man to beat” in the next presidential elections if the polls were held today.
It could, sure. But not to the extent of dislodging him as the most favored presidential hopeful.
Those charges could affect his ratings in urban centers where people rely on newspapers, radio and television. This refers mostly to the A and B class, but not to the “masa,” which is the bigger base of Binay.
Don’t forget that Binay has campaigned in so many places nationwide where even presidential candidates have failed to go before him. As mayor of Makati, he has helped so many municipalities and cities, giving them ambulances and other forms of assistance.
Don’t forget, too, that he is the head of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. His portrait is plastered in all the calendars in households nationwide.
What has been happening at the Senate is trial by publicity. Senators Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes are obviously salivating for higher office. People know this.
* * *
On the proposed lifestyle check of PNP Chief Purisima and all policemen, why not extend this to all government officials, from the President down to security guards and janitors? If this check must be done, do it to all.
I included security guards and janitors because I recall that a security guard at Customs was found to have a Porsche, obviously beyond his capacity.
We can expect howls of objection from government people, especially officials, but, this appears imperative in the wake of so many members of the Philippine National Police living beyond their means and engaged in conspicuous consumption. Where do they get their money in their first place?
Actually, lifestyle checks would not be necessary if only Congress would finally enact the Freedom of Information bill. People will be able to find out where their money is going, and to whom. But, strangely, President Aquino refuses to certify the FOI bill as urgent. I cannot understand.
Lifestyle checks of government people may appear drastic, but at the rate corrupt government officials are coming out of the woodwork, a cleansing process is needed to restore faith and confidence in the government.
For instance, there is the corruption surge in an administration that claims to tread the straight path.
Mr. Aquino’s most laughable story is the detention of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and three opposition senators. These are supposed to support his claim that he is winning the fight against corruption.
Achievement, my foot! Doesn’t the President know that anybody charged in court is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise?
And what about President’s Aquino’s own allies who are similarly involved in cases of corruption? What is he doing about them? The President defends his friends in the face of incontrovertible proof of wrongdoing. That’s Daang Matuwid for you.
It has been months after it was revealed that Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) Director General Joel Villanueva were likewise involved with Napoles. Nothing has been done.
It has also been awhile since the National Bureau of Investigation found that many of the President’ allies misused their Priority Development Assistance Fund. Again, nothing.
And now no less than the chief of the Philippine National Police, General Alan Purisima, is facing charges of plunder and graft. The President has been quick to defend him.
It seems that Mr. Aquino thinks the people he appoints can do no wrong!
That the President continues to lambast the previous administration because of its alleged corruption is the height of hypocrisy, dishonesty and lack of integrity.
So why doesn’t he just let his problematic people go?
The Aquino administration has a very shallow bench to chose from, it is believed. This is why the President packs his team with his Ateneo classmates, shooting buddies, close personal friends and loyalists.
To me, President Aquino is suffering from delusion. He thinks his people are all angels. It’s an affliction, actually.
* * *
I have been asked if I thought the allegations hurled at Vice President Jejomar Binay would affect his survey ratings. He has been shown as the “man to beat” in the next presidential elections if the polls were held today.
It could, sure. But not to the extent of dislodging him as the most favored presidential hopeful.
Those charges could affect his ratings in urban centers where people rely on newspapers, radio and television. This refers mostly to the A and B class, but not to the “masa,” which is the bigger base of Binay.
Don’t forget that Binay has campaigned in so many places nationwide where even presidential candidates have failed to go before him. As mayor of Makati, he has helped so many municipalities and cities, giving them ambulances and other forms of assistance.
Don’t forget, too, that he is the head of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. His portrait is plastered in all the calendars in households nationwide.
What has been happening at the Senate is trial by publicity. Senators Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes are obviously salivating for higher office. People know this.
* * *
On the proposed lifestyle check of PNP Chief Purisima and all policemen, why not extend this to all government officials, from the President down to security guards and janitors? If this check must be done, do it to all.
I included security guards and janitors because I recall that a security guard at Customs was found to have a Porsche, obviously beyond his capacity.
We can expect howls of objection from government people, especially officials, but, this appears imperative in the wake of so many members of the Philippine National Police living beyond their means and engaged in conspicuous consumption. Where do they get their money in their first place?
Actually, lifestyle checks would not be necessary if only Congress would finally enact the Freedom of Information bill. People will be able to find out where their money is going, and to whom. But, strangely, President Aquino refuses to certify the FOI bill as urgent. I cannot understand.
Lifestyle checks of government people may appear drastic, but at the rate corrupt government officials are coming out of the woodwork, a cleansing process is needed to restore faith and confidence in the government.
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