Manila’s Law

A night of rain and all the traffic lights conk out. How can a government fix anything in this benighted country if it can’t even fix traffic lights? We should have our version of Murphy’s Law. Call it Manila’s Law: If anything will go wrong, it will go wrong in Manila.

I don’t know about you, but since last month my daily commute has been taking nearly twice as long. Untangling the traffic mess I guess is very low on this administration’s totem pole of priorities, since every government functionary and his mother (and dog) enjoys blinkers, sirens and security escorts to part the hoi polloi during heavy traffic. During emergencies, they can even commandeer the private helicopters of the obscenely rich, who are more than willing to do those in power a little favor. After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, or a free helicopter ride.

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Malacañang should look into that deal for so-called "smart" traffic lights and find out who made a killing from the system that still hasn’t been fully installed.

On second thought, maybe the ones who made a killing have ties to Malacañang. These days all dirty deals seem to leave trails that go all the way to the Palace by the Pasig. Specifically, to the other half (can’t say the better half) of the Arroyo tandem.

It seems not a month passes without some new dirt being dug up about First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Yesterday it was rice smuggling. Customs Commissioner Titus Villa-nueva had to issue a denial about the First Gentleman’s involvement in the activities of Lucio Co, who has been accused of smuggling since the presidency of his friend Joseph Estrada. Since the Bureau of Customs has an abysmal public trust rating, Villanueva’s clearance doesn’t count for much, but what the heck, someone has to issue an official statement.

Fortunately for the First Gentleman, all the charges against him have fizzled out so far. Unfortunately for him, the "clearances" he has received seem to have made no dent on public perceptions that he is involved in shady deals. This is indicated in the latest survey taken last month by the Social Weather Stations, which gave him a net public trust rating of negative 21 percent – a precipitous drop from 14 percent in January this year and negative 8 percent last September. (By the way, in answer to those naughty questions, no, Virginia, Mike A’s negative rating is NOT a ground for marriage annulment.)

President GMA, on the other hand, seems to enjoy a Teflon coating that protects her from the dirt hurled at her husband. Her approval rating, as you may have already read, is at an all-time high, according to the SWS. But can she order her people at Malacañang to conduct a credible investigation of her husband?

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If it’s not Malacañang, which institution can we trust to conduct a probe? Congress? It has a habit of conducting protracted investigations even without the presentation of corroborative material evidence or documents – as long as the press remains interested.

The police? This one has a tendency to manufacture witnesses and plant evidence. Military intelligence, on the other hand, grabs any self-styled witness, takes his word as gospel truth (as long as he attacks the right persons) and presents him to the public. No wonder President GMA is calling an intelligence summit. Not that any "summit" in this country has ever amounted to anything, but we do need better intelligence.

The judiciary? The Ombudsman is being threatened with impeachment while the Sandiganbayan has become a joke. Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena didn’t get his foul mouth washed off with soap, but he got something much worse from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, his nemesis, Anacleto Badoy, seems to be coming unhinged and needs permanent rest from his high-pressure job.

The Department of Justice? Secretary Nani Perez is too identified with his boss. How can he investigate the First Gentleman?

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So with no one to turn to for a credible investigation, and no one bothering to produce material evidence to bolster grave accusations, we’re doomed to live with all the unsubstantiated charges, white papers, text jokes and rumors about everyone and everything till 2004.

President GMA at least has her ratings to keep her going. Unlike her predecessor, she should put her popularity to good use, implementing long-delayed reforms even if it means stepping on her friends’ toes. If she can’t do anything about her husband, the Abu Sayyaf or the economy, she may want to focus on "doables," such as untangling the traffic mess.