A snap election is a terrible idea

It must be the bitterness of the experience that led Erap associate, Atty. Crispin Remulla, to propose the holding of a snap election for president. In fact, I was amazed at the bitterness in Mr. Remulla’s voice and in his demeanor and facial expression as he was interviewed on ANC on the matter. Not even Erap himself has come across as bitter as the former Malacañang legal assistant.

A snap election however, is a terrible idea. This much was conceded by the most senior elected opposition leader today, Sen. Ed Angara when he was asked about it. It will aggravate a seriously divided citizenry at a time when we should be putting partisan considerations aside, given the gravity of the nation’s problems. Expect the battered peso to sink faster if this option gets seriously considered.

Mr. Remulla says that it is precisely because of our serious problems that we should have snap elections. President Arroyo, he pointed out, has come across as being unsure of herself and this, he said, is because she does not have the mandate of the people. He made a quip about GMA owing her position to the Supreme Court.

I thought the results of the May election gave Ms. Macapagal Arroyo the mandate she needs to run this country even as the people elected just enough Erap allies to make sure the former President is treated fairly. I also do not think another election will make more positive difference now. Worse, a snap election will confirm the fears of investors and financiers that our political milieu is so unstable, Las Vegas casinos offer more predictability.

The attitude of Sen. Angara is to me, the right way for the opposition to approach its relationship with the administration. "Critical collaboration" is how I remember Ed Angara calling it in one of our conversations recently. The problems we face are so grave that even if we united to confront them, there is still no guarantee we will succeed to turn things around in the short term.

It makes more sense for the opposition to help out now so that they can approach 2004 with clean hands. They can say they tried and they helped but the problems are beyond the capability of GMA to handle. But if they rock the boat now either through coup threats or a demand for snap election, the opposition will end up looking too power hungry and self-centered to be trusted again. GMA can also use the opposition’s reckless behavior as reason why she failed.

This is why I find it a good development that Danding’s NPC is in coalition with Joe de V in a majority that will support GMA. Better to have them in the President’s tent than outside. I am more comfortable with the thought that the opposition in the House will be composed of responsible people led by Butch Abad who also knows the imperatives of nation building in these difficult times.

While it is too early to say how the Senate leadership will shape up, even an opposition led Senate with Ed Angara at the helm would guarantee reasonable cooperation with GMA on matters of national interest. Knowing GMA’s keen political sense, we may even see a good partnership between the executive and the legislative branches in tackling our problems in the next three years.

Looking for sparkles of hope in the mist of our present despair is difficult but not impossible. In fact, I get the feeling that we are on the way towards building a momentum that will blast us out of the hellhole we are now in. We must not mess things up with stupid ideas like a snap election.

For one thing, the private sector seems to be wide awake and ready to contribute more than their usual share towards poverty alleviation. I am surprised at how socially oriented projects have become fashionable topics and activities among the elite these days. At DECS, it seems like Raul Roco has made significant inroads in the fight against corruption. At long last, the poor will be able to hope that their children can get the proper education that will be their ticket out of poverty.

Actually, the Cabinet of GMA gives us reason to be hopeful. With such young and fresh talents like Lito Camacho, Vince Perez and the always reliable Mar Roxas on top of the key bureaucracies responsible for the economy, we can at least be assured of new and creative solutions to perennial problems.

In sum, a snap election now is a terrible idea. Even the regular one in 2004 seems a little too soon to be fair in evaluating the performance of GMA. Most important of all, a snap election will aggravate the division among our people and distract everyone from the more important task of navigating our battered economy in the present sea of globalized economic uncertainty.

Sweepstakes

Malacañang listed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as one of the agencies with grossly overpaid top executives. For the sweepstakes, the amount listed as the monthly remuneration of its chairman is a scandalous P10 million. Clarifications were later issued that the P10 million are not salary or allowances but confidential and discretionary funds.

I think the explanation did little to remove the cloud of scandal. It did not give the public an idea of how these confidential and discretionary funds are used. My guess is, this is where the PCSO chairman gets money every time he or she gets an order from Malacañang to help some politician or constituent.

And that’s not all. I am told the amount is actually P20 million a month. The other P10 million is with the general manager. In fact, I am told that control of this P20 million monthly allocation is the reason why the chairman and the general manager of PCSO are traditionally after each other’s throats.

Perhaps, in the spirit by which President Arroyo signed that Executive Order on GOCC executive salaries and perks, she will now order PCSO to make public the use of those confidential and discretionary funds. They can go back two administrations, to make it interesting.

How about it?

Whose jeep?

I think it speaks volumes about a military that cannot even make sure one lousy jeep to be used by the commander-in-chief runs the few meters of a troop review. They can’t even make one jeep roadworthy. No wonder the Abu Sayyaf is still holding the nation hostage.

Or maybe, it was the air force’s way of delivering a message (a warning perhaps?) to their commander-in-chief... by making her use... yung jeep ni Erap!

(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected])