MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II seemed to have admitted that there is a lack of common sense in the Aquino administration, a spokesman for the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said yesterday.
UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said they found it ironic that Roxas, the anointed candidate of President Aquino, would cite the lack of common sense in the practices of the current administration.
Roxas has repeatedly stated the need for a Department of Common Sense to address bureaucracy issues in the government.
“If he is serious, then he is the last person to propose it since his stint as a Cabinet member has been marked by absence of common sense. With his recent statement, Mar is admitting there is a lack of common sense in the present administration,” Ilagan said.
“Aside from addressing common sense, perhaps he also has to deal with incompetence management. Managing incompetence at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) makes more sense since most of the Liberal Party people heading it are bungling our transport systems,” he added.
Ilagan further criticized the track record of Roxas as DOTC secretary, noting the current problems in the country’s transportation system, particularly in the airports and the rail systems.
“Common sense dictates that you do not replace an international railways maintenance provider with a proven track record with a newly incorporated firm with unproven track record and owned by an LP party mate,” he added.
He also cited the supposed lack of common sense of Roxas when, as interior secretary, he chose to draw party lines during the relief efforts in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Ilagan was referring to the heated exchange between Roxas and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez during government efforts to address the effects of the typhoon.