How the Senate can avert crisis

On Sept. 10 Interior Sec. Ronnie Puno ordered with finality the six-month suspension of nine brutal cops. Till today Supt. Franklin Mabanag, Gerardo Ratuita et al remain in their posts. It seems that Puno, as National Police Commission boss, is unable to punish them for abusively arresting broadcaster Ted Failon’s kin and house staff. How could he, when his boss Gloria Arroyo sets bad examples of abetting indiscipline? The President ignored the Ombudsman order to suspend Romy Neri. She kept quiet when deputy NSA Chavit Singson dared her to fire him. She only shuffled a Cabinet lawyer she found selling drug cases. Given the bad leadership example of the Commander-in-Chief, why should the National Police brass obey Puno?

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The admin presidential standard bearer is off to a bad start. So like Malacañang party mates, he’s lying about Lakas-Kampi voting him official bet last week. Contrary to minutes and initial notices, he alleges it wasn’t a convention but mere consensus, and so did not break Comelec rules on holding such events. What to expect? Filipinos have a saying: ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw.

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Public fear of the poll automation crashing is bad enough. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile worsens it by prescribing military action if no President and VP are elected in 2010. Now comes ex-general Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes predicting nationwide shortage next year of electricity on which the Comelec computers will run. He’s saying this at a time when there’s shortage in Visayas but oversupply in Luzon and Mindanao. Not only is failure of the 2010 election probable due to technology flop but also evil manipulation. The admin might pull a no-election trick to prolong itself in power.

From Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Constantino Jaraula sees a seven-point solution. To avert crisis, the constitutionalist and ex-congressman suggests to the Senate:

1. Let the Constitution’s Article VI, Sec. 16 guide: “Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary.”

2. SP Enrile need not be replaced till his term ends on June 30, 2010.

3. Senators can create a position next to the SP — call it Senate Vice or Deputy President, whatever is appropriate.

4. Automatic succession to SP shall be provided, with full powers.

5. The Senate Vice/Deputy President shall be chosen from among those with terms till 2013, except presidential candidates. So the choice should be made after the Nov. 30 deadline for filing candidacies.

6. In case of failed election, there will be a legitimate leader for the military to rally behind.

7. Leaving the future to the military is dangerously chaotic — so can destroy the Republic. Based on present alignments, it will not be united.

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The Economist is normally accurate assessing situations anywhere in the world. Business, political and technology leaders use the London-based magazine as guide to events and trends. But planners of its 2009 Emerging Markets Conference goofed inviting Gloria Arroyo to stand for Southeast Asia last Friday. She was in no position to give what Malacañang bandied as “a keynote speech about the Philippines’ economic resilience and growth amidst global crisis.”

Education is a primary socioeconomic indicator. Here Arroyo failed. Her term began 2001 with a classroom lack, shoddy textbooks, and ill-trained teachers. Eight years later on the week she was flying to her London sojourn, her education office was declaring crisis. So short are schoolhouses that it was compressing school time from six to only four hours a day. Three classes would now be squeezed in per room from of the usual two, with the first class to start as early as 5:30 a.m. Books are sloppier than ever, abetted by officials who waste meager funds buying noodles. Teachers are left to self-improve, if at all, since there’s no more cash for skills upgrades after paltry wages. Dropout stats were bleak in 2001: of every 10 pupils entering Grade I, only 5 finish Grade VI, only 2 go on to high school, and only 1 makes it through college. Figures are the same today, but direr since there are now 8 million more schoolchildren.

Food is the next indicator. Two years into Arroyo’s tenure, families going hungry in 2003 were at 5.1 percent. They quadrupled to 20.3 percent last June. The only sated Filipinos are Arroyo and cronies who engorge P1-million dinners courtesy of taxpayers.

Employment is the third indicator. Arroyo’s aides fudge jobless stats. More reliable are independent SWS surveys of adults. Unemployment in the past five years were the worst in three decades: 22.6% in 2005, 26.4% in 2006, 25.3% in 2007, 28.6% in 2008, and 30% today.

Tax collections are down; state borrowings are sky-high. Corruption and smuggling abound. NEDA boss Ralph Recto warned, on leaving office August, that the next President will inherit a bankrupt government. That’s the Arroyo record, for the Economist’s info.

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To EKIT residents and alumni of UPLB and LSPU chapters:

The 2nd leg of SKP Foundation’s Lakbay Balangay is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, in Los Baños, Laguna. As in the Lucban, Quezon 1st leg, founders Mindo David, Doti Abaya and Jack Gan lead past and present Supremos from other chapters in the provincial visit. For details and reservations, contact Brods Peter Martinez (0918-9048273) and Budz Serrano (0916-7643561).

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“The poor are hungry not for a day but practically all their lives.” Shafts of Light, Fr. Guido Arguelles, SJ

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E-mail: [email protected]