Better alternative

Since P-Noy assumed office almost five years ago, there were already vital signs that he is not for real. The electorate who catapulted him to power, including the millions of us Filipinos from all walks of life dying to see the much needed changes in our government, already started to have some misgivings about his competence and integrity as a public official more specifically as President of the Philippines.

Indeed from the time he took his oath of office, the feeling of doubt and concern about his qualifications as President of this country already crept in. Somehow, people started sensing that his much vaunted reputation as an honest and sincere politician is all a product of an aggressive PR campaign akin to the showbiz style of whipping up emotional adulation to a matinee idol. In his case the element of sympathy was even added because of the death of his mother, the wife of a martyred crusader for reforms in government, who led in the toppling of the hated and dreaded Marcos Martial Law regime.

And true enough, as we helplessly and frustratingly watched and experienced the unfolding events in our country during his four years and more than eight months stay in Malacanang, there is no doubt anymore in our minds and hearts that we have committed a monumental blunder in choosing him as our President. Our hopes and dreams when we voted for him last 2010 have been completely shattered.

Undoubtedly, the latest carnage in Maguindanao where 44 members of the elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were brutally slaughtered in an alleged “mis-encounter,”  added fuel to the raging fire of anger and frustration against P-Noy. Even as so many probes are now being conducted to find out what really happened, and despite Malacañang’s appeal to wait for the outcome of said probes before making any judgment, the people’s growing indignation against P-Noy seems to be irrepressible. Now, there are even angry calls for him to step down, provocatively and opportunely dubbed as “Aquino Resign Movement” (ARM).  

This latest development has obviously stretched the patience of some people to the limit. It appears that they cannot bear to wait any longer. They don’t want P-Noy to stay in Malacanang up to the end of his term in June 2016. This is understandable. But they should also consider the consequences when he steps down. We will just have more of the same kind of government mired in corruption if the Constitutional rule on succession will be followed. As people have been saying, “pare-pareho lang silang lahat.”  

 The more prudent way, and in observance of the rule of law, is to just allow P-Noy to finish his term and start preparing for the coming elections in 2016 by insuring that we will not be installing in office another set of traditional politicians or “trapos.” Admittedly, the present political landscape looks bleak. No one among those who have openly expressed interest to run as President looks promising enough to meet our expectations of finally achieving the reforms in our government. Indeed the leading contender according to poll surveys has spurred a lot of people to look for a better alternative who will be a worthy challenger that will thwart his bid.

There seems to be lots of guides in choosing the right leader for 2016. But as of now, the right guides can be taken from some tragic happenings in our country especially during P-Noy’s watch. If we look at these events, we can somehow form an image of “a man on a white horse emerging from the horizon” who promises to be a better alternative and who would brighten the political landscape in our land.

Among recent occurrences and issues that have gripped the entire country, three stand out as the most painful and outrageous: the PDAF-pork barrel controversy, super typhoon Yolanda and the Mamasapano massacre. Curiously, they relate to three challenges of governance and national development  that beg to be addressed today with a true sense of political will and urgency. These are: corruption (symbolized by pork barrel), disaster response (Yolanda), and peace and order (Mamasapano).

Destructive and hurting as they may be, perhaps these tragedies and complications happened for a special purpose. That is, to awaken our people into choosing our next leader according to qualities needed to lead the nation in confronting such challenges with confidence.

Hence, against the menace of corruption, we need a leader himself or herself untainted by issues of corruption and has a personal beef against pork (pun not intended). In the face of calamities and disasters, which are “normal” to the country, we need a leader who is the take-charge type, action-oriented and decisive. And, relative to peace and order (covering problems  of criminality, insurgency, secessionism and terrorism), we need a leader who is himself or herself not only the epitome of discipline but one who has the proven capability of enforcing discipline and the rule of law. All told, we must seek a leader who can best put a well-coordinated and disciplined government bureaucracy on full throttle when the people need it most. And right now, the only person that comes to mind is former Senator Panfilo Lacson. He appears to be the best man for the job.

 So, as 2016 draws nearer and the importuning of politicians grow louder, think Pork, think Yolanda, and think Mamasapano And SAF 44. And thus  choose according to the best interest of our country.

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