Does Ate Glue want to remain in office?

At the rate things are going, one wonders if Ate Glue really wants to remain in office, or if she has a political death wish. The hard line approach she is implementing now is not going to do it for her. On the contrary, it may hasten her political demise by hardening society’s polarization. I have always said the only viable way to stay in power is for her to regain her credibility and moral authority. This, she can do, only if she surprises us with a kind of governance and personal lifestyle that would totally overwhelm even her worst critics.

It is not going to happen, you might say. And you may be right. Still, no one can deny me the right to hope that Ate Glue will one day give in to whatever genes of patriotism she might have inherited from her late father. We need a new and inspiring Ate Glue to get us going because we cannot go on like this. Despite what figures her officials come up with to show an economy on the go, the fact is only increased OFW remittances is keeping us afloat.

As proof that all is not well in the our economy, a study on the banking system by Bear Sterns & Co. found that Philippine banks are very liquid, adequately capitalized but not lending enough. Banks are happy to park their funds in risk-less investments in government securities. This situation adversely affects economic recovery and job creation. That means, there are very few businesses borrowing for expansion from the banks. That means very few jobs are created here. That means, our investors are just watching and waiting for a real leader to emerge.

On that basis, you might say I am delusional to think things will get better soon. Maybe I am, but what’s the choice? I have to fool myself into being hopeful because being depressed sucks. But lately, there are people, including men of faith like Brother Mike, who are starting to think that she could be beyond hope. They want a snap election or a referendum of sorts on her continued leadership.

Why? I hear that the arrival of her briefly exiled husband appears to have signaled the end of the small tokens Ate Glue gave the idea of reforms and good governance. For instance, I heard that Balong Arevalo, the no nonsense former military officer who is now on top of customs is about to lose his job. It seems he carried out his reform agenda a little too seriously. But if he goes, imagine the fallout among his "mistahs" who are already restive as it is.

The FG reportedly wants to put in his place current Malacañang Presidential Assistant Ed Pamintuan, a local politician. The president of the Federation of Philippine Industries (or some such industry group whose name escapes me) is reportedly also jockeying for it. Maybe Balong had been bad for business, monkey business.

The next big test of whether Ate Glue is really serious about good governance is her choice as the replacement of resigned Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo. If she appoints anyone closely identified with her, like her Presidential Legal Counsel who happens to be the FG’s former classmate at law school, her credibility will hit new lows. We need a Marcelo clone, someone fiercely independent and competent. The name I have in mind is Wigberto Tanada, but he’s not even in the list.

A reshuffle of officials is reportedly in the offing as paranoia grips the increasingly isolated Ate Glue and husband. Even Eddie Ermita, who is boldly sticking his neck out for her now, is said to be in danger of being replaced because he is perceived to be closer to Eddie Ramos. That’s one of the things being held against Balong Arevalo, too. It seems that FVR, Ate Glue’s white knight, no longer looks that knightly to her now. A split is imminent, if the recent exchange of views on FVR’s proposal to cut her term is any indication.

Most ominous for Ate Glue is her apparent loss of the unconditional support of power brokers like El Shaddai’s Brother Mike. Unfortunately, Toting Bunye characteristically dismissed their proposal for a snap election or a referendum on her continued stay in Malacañang by saying there is no constitutional basis for either.

But neither is there a prohibition for calling one, if that is the only way this country can move forward.

I think we should include a rider survey question in the barangay elections to be scheduled next year asking the people if they still want her as President. If the answer is yes, the opposition starts cooperating. But if the answer is no, she would resign and pave the way for a snap election. The understanding is that both Ate Glue and the opposition would honor the result.

My own feeling is the earlier this is done, the better for the country because we have no more time to lose. She closed the doors kasi on other avenues like the impeachment process. That would have delivered closure on doubts regarding her legitimacy.

But, you may ask, even with Garci gone, to Brazil or Poland, can we trust the Comelec? Well, I guess not yet. But then, maybe Ombudsman Marcelo can do this country one last favor before he goes by suspending the Comelec officials involved in that anomalous modernization attempt that cost taxpayers billions and delivered nothing.

The Supreme Court already called the scheme anomalous, nullified it, and called for the officials involved to be made to account for wasting our money. The Ombudsman should take it from there and hope the officials concerned resign to allow a new set of officers to clean up Comelec and its image.

Going back to Ate Glue, I think our least cost option is for her to keep her office, provided she is able to demonstrate a commitment to good governance and actively win back our trust and confidence. But she is not going to get that with her husband by her side and if she continues to allow her base political instincts to prevail over what’s decent and statesmanlike.

Oh well… she’s not going to change overnight into a leader we can look up to… maybe she really is a dead duck… a victim of political bird flu, who must be politically quarantined. Or maybe she has a political death wish and has a subconscious desire to be booted out of office. Unless she changes, she may get her wish.

Crime watch

I am told that since we wrote about the 23 cell sites of Globe burned by communist insurgents, three more were attacked, including the phone company’s office in Tarlac. Looks like the communists are determined to make Globe pay revolutionary tax and Globe is standing pat on its corporate policy not to do so.

Globe is partly owned by Singapore Telecom, a business owned by the investment arm of the Singapore government. In fact, the partnership with the Ayala Group and the investment made in this Philippine venture was negotiated by no less than BG Lee, the current Singapore Prime Minister and son of the legendary Lee Kuan Yew, when he was running the investment arm. That explains why Globe cannot support terrorism of this sort.

Medyo kahiyaan ito. It is likely that Singapore would protest this lack of government protection to its investment. And if BG Lee asks Ate Glue what is happening here… how come her government is so helpless… she’d be put into a very embarrassing spot.

Maybe Gerry Ablaza of Globe should schedule a meeting with his counterpart in Smart and ask him what his secret is in keeping Smart towers safe from attack. I suspect the Smart guys have implemented a variation of my suggestion. Nothing ideological here, just strictly business!

Pregnant lady

Norbert Goldie sent this one in.

A lady about eight months pregnant got on a bus. She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her. She immediately moved to another seat. This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again. The man seemed more amused. When on the fourth move, she had the man arrested.

The case came up in court. The judge asked the man what he had to say for himself.

The man replied, "Well your Honor, it was like this. When the lady got on the bus, I couldn’t help noticing her condition. She sat under a sweets sign that said, "The Double Mint Twins are Coming" and I grinned.

Then she moved and sat under a sign that said, "Logan’s Liniment will reduce the swelling", and I had to smile.

Then she placed herself under a deodorant sign that said, "William’s Big Stick Did the Trick", and I could hardly contain myself.

BUT, your Honor, when she moved the fourth time and sat under a sign that said, "Goodyear Rubber could have prevented this accident"...I just lost it."

CASE DISMISSED!

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