SONA to bits & pieces

Executive privilege as the world knows it is officially dead in the Philippines thanks to what is now termed in the United States as Judicial Authoritarianism where the court of law over-rules the rules long set by the electorate and their representatives.

In the United States, Judicial Authoritarianism (where one unelected but excessively powerful state supreme court justice can disregard commonly held beliefs and values by passing or affirming contrary opinion) is being blamed for decisions that now allow same sex marriage, abortion, or banning religion and prayer in public or in schools.

In the Philippines, Judicial Authoritarianism is perceived to be the result of political pressure placed upon presidential nominees in the Judiciary in order to solicit or achieve opinions and decisions that rescue or salvage the government or administration from being dismembered or run out of the country. The biggest casualties of this exercise are none other than “questionable contracts such as the “FRAPORT-NAIA 3”, “ZTE”, and “Executive Privilege”.

There was a time when the words “Executive”, “Privilege”, and most especially “Executive Privilege” were uttered with great awe and respect. They were not trivialized or taken for granted. Unfortunately the past nine years have been enough for the administration to devalue honor in the “Executive” office, nine years have been enough to achieve the dubious record of having abused privilege the most, and in less than a year, they successfully killed the true meaning and sanctity of “Executive Privilege”. But, it comes with a price.

As we anticipate what used to be an occasion of great importance: The State of the Nation Address or SONA, we find the event under threat, devoid of integrity and surrounded by usurpers of true Executive Privilege. The SONA was always the sole responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Republic as well as the exclusive privilege of the President.

The SONA has been and always should be received with a measure of respect not only for the messenger but also as a reflection of our Nation and its people. The SONA is the national yardstick of our status, our hope and our aspirations. It was never meant to be a political statement or an instrument to solicit applause from the choir. The SONA is the Chief Executive’s account for their achievements and their failure. It is a public account to the nation.

The SONA is not a generic tool that can be used as a vehicle of Freedom of Expression or political criticism by any other person or entity because it is a responsibility and the sole privilege of the President irrespective of popularity or legitimacy. Those who have and would continue to craft, issue or declare their own SONA are by their actions publicly declaring themselves to be irreverent frauds whose only intent are to criticize and gain some measure of respect through political opportunism. As the Brits would put it: the pot calling the kettle black”.

The official SONA for all intents and purpose is an act of compliance required by our form and system of government. It forms the basis of review, action or opposition to any future Legislative or Executive agenda intended by the majority or the administration. It is a statement of intent regarding government programs so that those in need and those who could be affected may know well in advance and in public. In a country where the court has reduced our right and need to know about government intent, it would be folly not to pay attention to the SONA.

Those unfamiliar with foreign policy and foreign relations fail to appreciate the vital importance of the SONA in terms of International relations and assistance. The SONA impacts policy and decisions made by foreign diplomats and recommendations they make to their home office. So just like foreign investors, our “National Due Diligence study” and our “Business plan” determines what investments they send over. 

Unfortunately we have all contributed by our cynicism, ridicule, or rebellion, to the trivialization of the SONA. By replacing truth and vision with sound byte Presidential writers have taken over “Executive Privilege” as well as the responsibility that rests solely on the President.

By recognizing and reacting to the petty and frustrated comedians who label themselves as nationalists, we have legitimized them and allowed ourselves to be robbed of an accounting set aside in recognition of civilian rule. 

Freedom of Expression is our right to give our opinion, our reaction or assessment of the State Of the Nation’s Address. But unless you or I become the President of the Republic, we cannot give to ourselves the right or the privilege to make our own, especially if we merely wish to state the obvious or exaggerate on them. Don’t call attention to a lie by telling a lie.

As Erap is quoted as saying “Mag presidente muna sila!”