On disloyal cabinet members

The ten cabinet secretaries who jumped the boat of the GMA administration last week are now joining the call for the President's resignation. Having been trusted members of GMA's official family and having been privy to the inner working of her government, they are now beating the war drums with the opposition. Respectable people as they were, the immediate reactions to their resignation were a mix of surprise and disbelief. How could they, of all people, suddenly turn their backs on their boss?

Shortly after, however, information filtered in which explained why it happened. Reliable sources had it that the move was part of the Liberal party's plan to seize power and form a new government under its control. Proof of this was the presence of then education secretary Florencio Abad and his colleague, former finance secretary Cesar Purisima in a Hong Kong conference where the take-over plot was hatched in the presence of Vice President Noli de Castro and senate president Frankiln Drilon. We thought conscience cleansing was the driving motive of the cabinet men. Now it is clear that a simple love of power and influence was behind it all.

Having sensed, mistakenly, that the hours of President Arroyo's administration were numbered, they made the quick turn-around expecting probably that with their experience as department executives they would get choice seats in the new government. Far from a selfless move, their action therefore smacked of self-preservation and self-centeredness. Despite their protestation, there was no self-sacrifice at all, nor love of country. It was plain perfidy inspired by selfish design.

For his part, former secretary Abad explained his side that the series of faux pas of President Arroyo, including her sudden change of mind to run for the presidency after publicly declaring she would not, was the reason why he bolted his post. But the question is, why did he accept the education portfolio, knowing full well he would be serving under a President who had backtracked on her statement and whose husband had been accused of several indiscreet transactions.

As for the Gloria-gate thing, any lawyer worth his salt, and Abad is a lawyer, knows there's nothing to it except suspicion of a fraud. By asking the President to resign, is he now convicting her without an iota of proof? As for the jueteng scandal, this too was a mere heresy without a shard of evidence and was concocted by people with shady pasts and associated with the opposition. Even in the light of such exposé, can GMA be blamed? During President Aquino's term her kamag-anaks had their heyday of irregularities, but was there a call for her resignation?

Among the values strongly characteristic of a Filipino is loyalty, not just to one's immediate superior but to an institution which, in this case, is the presidency. Without such loyalty no leader can function effectively, nor can an organization operate successfully. A President surrounded by recalcitrants and double-dealers would be a lameduck president and the presidency itself would be a dysfunctional institution. By abandoning their offices, these cabinet men and women consequently exposed themselves to the charge of disloyalty to both leader and institution. "Walang hiya" or "way uwaw" (in Cebuano) may not be completely appropriate for them. But if they have hiya, why have they forsaken their leader who brought them out from anonymity into positions of power and responsibility? If they have hiya, why are they now trying to destroy the presidency by aligning themselves with power crazy opposition mafias?

The Philippine ship is presently buffeted by a political storm, and all hands are needed to keep it afloat. But some deck hands have jumped overboard just because they do not like the captain's seamanship. If they love their country, would it not have been prudent to help it weather the storm and abandon the ship later when it reaches calm waters?

It is regrettable that such batch of talented government executives have left the service. With their technical know-how, they would have been useful in pushing this country towards stability. On the other hand, what happened could be a blessing in disguise for GMA and the country. For of what use are competent men if they have no sense of loyalty?