All the President's men

BLURB: Reforms may be taking place right now, but time is really running short for all these to gain traction and eventually ingrain themselves into the system.

Immediately after the fourth State of the Nation of President Aquino was finished, Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon tendered his resignation from the bureau. The Bureau of Customs was one of three agencies of government that the Chief Executive shamed in his speech, citing mediocrity and continued illegal activities such as smuggling and allowing suspects to clandestinely leave the country. Indeed, the President, known to publicly shame errant officials, took time to look into his own administration and tell the country how poorly they are performing. Probably feeling being alluded in  his speech, Biazon opted to make the first move. No word yet from the immigration bureau. I guess they're numb to the President's words.

But the President immediately turned down his resignation, even showing continued support by saying that he understood the hard task of cleaning up the Bureau of Customs. So he stays. Two other officials of the bureau also offered their resignations, Deputy Commissioners Danilo Lim and Juan Lorenzo Tañada. Both stating that there are powerful forces that influence the bureau and its functions. Powerful forces that use their influence to allow the continuation of what decades of corruption has done. So deep are the roots of corruption at the Customs that uprooting them may in essence kill the agency. But isn't that admitting defeat to these forces? Isn't that saying that nothing can be done anymore? In this administration, are there still powerful forces that can go against it? The President will probably accept their resignations.

A major revamp is on the offing, according to Commissioner Biazon. If the President still has confidence in him, then that revamp has to take place, and all those entrenched in the bureau all these years, raking in the fruits of corruption should all be expelled. At the risk of "killing" the bureau, it should be done. May I also suggest that the President back up Commissioner Biazon all the way. I find it hard to believe that there are more powerful forces than the President right now. If he warned all those in government that are still mired in wrongdoing, then it is time for action.

According to Deputy Commissioner Tañada, it would take 12 years to totally clean up the bureau. This is why it next to impossible because a good and honest administration has only six years in office. This is also the reason why the business sector refuses to totally cooperate with the reform programs because they might not even last very long. Cases filed take years for a resolution or judgment. The "you're only there for three more years" statement is strong enough for people to commit the crime of omission. The President himself stated that people do ask him what will happen when his term is over. Reforms may be taking place right now, but time is really running short for all these to gain traction and eventually ingrain themselves into the system.

So a very good question indeed.