‘What I will do as president’

In contrast to the cerebral summations made by defense lawyers in Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial, Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas of the prosecution pointed out, in simple language easily understood by the vast majority of our people, why the Chief Justice should be convicted. The points he raised were some of the key elements that tipped the balance in favor of the prosecution notwithstanding the legal technicalities raised by the defense. Even President Aquino, after the verdict was announced, complimented Fariñas for his closing statements.

Sometime ago, I received a letter from Frisco Castro of Teacher’s Village, Quezon City. In plain language, he pointed out what he would do if he were president of the Philippines. I wish to share his thoughts with our readers because I believe many of our people feel the same way but are unable to reach their leaders in an effective manner so as to influence government programs and priorities. I do not necessarily agree with him on all the points he raised, but there is a lot of common sense in the views he expressed. Perhaps, they also represent the more pressing problems that he faces in life.

Castro’s letter reads:

As President of the Philippines, the majority of my countrymen cast their votes to elect me as their leader. There is no question about this. With nobody questioning the genuineness of the 2010 national elections, I feel free to act within the law in order to serve my country. While I will act directly in some instances, I will ask the legislative arm of the government to enact the necessary legislation or introduce improvements on existing laws for the good of the country.

I will do the following:

Remove from office those I appointed but who were unable to discharge their duties as expected, through acts of commission or omission.

Instead of rhetoric, wage war against the Abu Sayyaf, the MILF, the NPA and other elements with victory in armed conflict as the first objective. All captured armed combatants shall be incarcerated and serve prison sentences as provided by law. Those who are willing to renounce their hostility and resistance to the government shall be given land to till, including seedlings and implements (to help them become) successful farmers. Technical and marketing resources shall be made available to them. All armaments that the government can make use of shall be added to the AFP inventory. The government and international agencies shall help civilian supporters of the defeated armed recalcitrants to embark on peaceful pursuits.

Accept advisory and logistical assistance from friendly governments in waging war against armed enemies of the State. Never mind the noisy militants. Most of them are financially supported by local and international organizations whose objective is to destabilize (our) democratic government.

Eliminate motorcycle assassins, criminal elements, etc., riding in tandem. All violators should be stopped, apprehended and investigated. Those who resist should be subdued by force of arms. This is the only way to stop crimes committed by people riding in tandem on motorcycles. At some future time, when this modus operandi shall have been eliminated, riding in tandem on motorcycles may be allowed.

Eliminate the pork barrel system in Congress. This act is aggravated when the congressmen and senators themselves assume principal roles in the implementation of projects in their bailiwicks and relegate the executive department-implementor to a secondary or meaningless role. Any president who has to bribe legislators through the pork barrel system has no right to lead the country. A sizable amount of government resources is wasted through the pork barrel system.

Reduce the number of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries in executive departments to two and four, respectively. Bureau directors should remain as the mainstays in the executive branch. They are career people and preserve the operating structure under any administration.

Double the size of the Armed Forces and the police organization. At the same time, adjudicate all pending cases against members of both organizations.

Eliminate all forms of hazing in the military and police academies. Hazing during cadet life engenders brutality in the career of an officer.

Restore the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in college. Only those who are really physically unfit should be exempted from ROTC. Deferment for reasons of health should only be made by AFP medical doctors. Any spurious medical deferment may be challenged and the guilty party should be punished. No alternative service, e.g., community service and the like, should be allowed as an alternative to military training. Our country is short of reservists in the officer class, unlike in 1941 when the Pacific War broke out. We cannot rely entirely on the Philippine Military Academy. Apart from (PMA’s) inability to numerically fill the requirement for officers in the AFP, ROTC reservists have shown their mettle in warfare.

Order the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to reduce openings for college courses whose graduates remain unemployed because of scant employment opportunities or offerings. In some cases, the courses may cease to be offered.

Encourage vocational education through schools and employers.

Give emphasis to rehabilitation, instead of relief, in addressing the problems of the poor.

Drastically cut the number of buses along Edsa to a few hundreds and considerably increase light rail coaches. The same should be done in other thoroughfares served by light rail systems.

Push for a constitutional convention of elected delegates in late 2012. Only those who have not served as senators and representatives shall qualify to vie for delegate. This constitutional convention should have a life of less than six months.

Advance the idea of senators elected by region. At present, the majority of regions are not represented in the Senate. This is unfair to residents of those regions.

Suggest an improvement in the selection of the chairman and members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by requiring the adoption of the system employed in the selection of justices of the Supreme Court, i.e., nominations by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and final selection by the president.

Follow a three- or four-year term for the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (AFP). The selection should not necessarily be determined by the PMA class in line for selection. The president should have the option to draw his choice from younger classes of the PMA or from graduates of the ROTC if he is to appoint the best-qualified officer.

Invite all neighboring countries, including China, that lay claim to parts of the Spratly group of islands and other areas in the West Philippine Sea, to get together and find a solution to the conflicting claims.