Noynoy: Be the change you promised to be

People are sick and tired of our political landscape and Noynoy can be the change he promised to be by making us all feel good again reading the newspapers. The last thing we want to read about is a President-elect acting like the spoil brat he is going to replace soon.

The image of the post election confrontational Noynoy is bothering a lot of people in the blogosphere. Even Noynoy supporters are saying they didn’t vote for him to have a schoolyard brawl with Ate Glue and her lapdogs even before he is officially proclaimed the winner. People are sick of the bad old days of Ate Glue’s reign and are thankful that it will soon be over. No one wants more of the same... only with different actors.

In the case of the midnight Chief Justice, people generally agree Ate Glue acted disgracefully. But there also seems to be a confluence of opinion that Noynoy should show himself as the bigger man. “He must show maturity and not act like a spoiled brat,” one Facebook blogger who said he was a Noynoy supporter, wrote.

If Ate Glue has made herself look petty and bratty by insisting on appointing the Chief Justice in the twilight of her term, Noynoy must show how much of a statesman he is by refusing to be drawn into a constitutional crisis over it. He can express displeasure over the midnight appointment by taking his oath before another member of the judiciary but he must not uselessly spend political capital by disrespecting the office of the Chief Justice. Noynoy must show he is indeed, the big change he promised to be by behaving in a civilized manner.

Besides, Noynoy has more important things to worry about these days. To begin with he must move quickly to consolidate power. He is in danger of having an opposition controlled Congress to deal with. Noynoy must show political agility to ensure a legislature that will work with him during his term. Unless this happens, he may not be able to deliver on the hopes and dreams of people who voted for him. He should learn from the lesson of Obama and the often deadlocked US Congress.

How to ensure effective governance should be his main worry these days. The initial practical indication of the quality of his administration will be seen in the people he appoints to key positions in government. Over the weekend, I had been getting some text messages with a supposed list of his preferences for various positions. I found the recycled names distasteful, specially the ones tainted with questionable deals in the past.

I suspect that the different interest groups that supported his candidacy are even now shoving such lists of potential appointments to him. Noynoy should not be intimidated or even feel any sense of utang na loob because the only ones Noynoy is indebted to are the people who voted for him despite all the black propaganda heaped upon his person.

Like any serious CEO in a private sector corporation, what Noynoy needs right now is a group of two or three upright people he absolutely trusts who will serve as his search and screening committee. These people will vet names submitted or suggested to him and better yet, go out on their own to seek the best and brightest and the most honest talents they can find.

I am comforted by the news I got that former Civil Service Commissioner Karina David and retired Supreme Court Justice Adolf Azcuna will be or have been asked to help Noynoy in this regard. These are two patriotic people we can be assured have no personal ulterior motives as we all saw in their past public service stints. I am also reassured by the news that there is strong possibility Butch Abad will be the Executive Secretary rather than some little known lawyer with little experience in big game politics.

The reality of the moment is that Noynoy will now be subjected to minute scrutiny by media. Every reporter assigned to cover him will be pressed to produce a sensational story every day. As one editor commented to a Facebook posting, “Noynoy needs 2 learn 2 b more circumspect. Hindi basta comment ng comment lang. Presidente na sya!”

Noynoy and his handlers must be careful in dealing with this pressure from media. They must not fall into the trap of being drawn into synthetic fights with Ate Glue and her evil empire for headline purposes. Ate Glue is history. People are now looking up to Noynoy to show them the difference they voted for.

Even this thing about taking his oath before his barangay captain… it needlessly made Noynoy look too combative for his own good by being disrespectful to the judicial branch of government. Even if most of the members of the high court do not deserve respect and most legal scholars are saying they misinterpreted the constitution to suit Ate Glue, the court itself is a major pillar of our democracy. I like to think Noynoy was only being sarcastic at worse, using hyperbole to picture his disdain for Ate Glue’s insistence in appointing the new Chief Justice.

As I wrote last Monday, President Noynoy must choose his battles. He must not get involved in the showbiz battles of youngest sister Kris. I know Noynoy feels an obligation as the big brother to protect Kris but he must let Kris fight her own showbiz battles as much as possible. Not only is Kris a big enough girl now, he cannot be spending political brownie points defending Kris. Her showbiz world is too masalimuot.

One more unsolicited advice from me to Noynoy: You need to pour out the charm in the next few weeks… make people feel they are upon a new era that is light years away from Ate Glue’s nasty and brutish reign. By pouring out the charm, you will win allies you need to govern and reassure those who voted for you they did not make a mistake. And the bottom line is…you need to govern well to be the change the Filipino people needs.

Joker and company

I got this e-mail from former Sen. Rene Saguisag in reaction to some reader comments I carried in this column last week.

You quoted a reader (PS, May 14) who criticized Joker Arroyo for seeking the release of detainee JoeMa Sison right after we took power. Hindi si Joker nag-iisa, ika nga.

We were still in Cojuango Bldg, after we took power but the Palace was still being cleared of mines after the Marcoses flew out. President Cory immediately created a Committee on the Release of Political Detainees to carry out a campaign and indeed long-term commitment PALAYAIN ANG LAHAT BA BILANGGONG PULITIKA!  

It was about our credibility being on the line, so we did not hem and haw. It was a decision our divided Committee reached and recommended to Prez Cory to implement. Our Chair was Uncle Jovy Salonga, and he, Joker, and myself – who at one time or another, in varying degrees, were jailed during the dark years for our opposition to the dictator – voted to redeem the pledge. JPE passionately opposed our position, citing the blood shed by the soldiers. FVR coolly opposed the proposal to free all political detainees, if my memory is true.

By a vote of three-two then, the commitment was carried out. And the coups began. Our panel met twice in Club Filipino, and once in Camp Aguinaldo, to dialogue with the soldiers. Then we voted. The democratic way. And got shot at.

Another reader of yours suggested naming certain losers to various Cabinet posts. They have to wait a year, after which I hope to see Gibo in the Cabinet. As to the others, in our culture one in government must have people skills and not be so certain that only he is apodictically right when confronted with choices of bad, worse and worst. As I found out only too well in my very short stint in the Palace – that politics is the art of the possible.

Mystery of the election

Got this text message.

Ninoy has died. Noynoy has risen. Peping is powerful again.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. This and some past columns can also be viewed at www.boochanco.com