In a recent radio interview, Sen. Grace Poe declared that she is surrounded by people who give her good advice. Can that also be said of President Aquino?
In the heels of the Aquino administration’s setback in the Supreme Court’s ruling on the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), one thing that comes to mind is his choice of advisers.
From the look of things, it’s apparent that the President is surrounded by people who fail to give him good advice, especially on matters of national importance and significance. To cite a few: the DAP fiasco, the decision not to certify as urgent the enactment of the freedom of information bill, the unceremonial firing of Pagasa head Prisco Nilo, and his tolerating the leadership of the House of Representatives to spearhead the move to amend the Constitution and to take up the divisive divorce bill in the 16th Congress.
It may be noted that several of his Cabinet members are lawyers, such as Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. is also a lawyer. Ochoa is one of P-Noy’s closest friends. A former classmate, he is supposed to be the “Little President.” What is he, and the others who are in the inner circle of the President, doing?
During the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino, she was surrounded and protected by people like Executive Secretary Joker P. Arroyo, Rene A. V. Saguisag, Augusto “Bobbit” S. Sanchez, Teodoro C. Benigno, Teddy “Boy” Locsin and a host of others who were loyal, trustworthy, competent and dependable, particularly in times of crises.
But now, it’s the President who is getting the flak; and yet he’s still quick enough to defend his Cabinet men, like Ochoa and Abad, when they are being hit.
Where are the real President’s men? Will his true and loyal advisers please stand up?
—EUSEBIO S. SAN DIEGO,
founder, Kaguro and former president,
Quezon City PSTA, essandiego@ymail.com