Changing the mood for the final stretch

Time will pass quickly in these last 15 months of the Aquino administration. P-Noy’s last State of the Nation Address is due to be delivered in July, four months from now. It will be very difficult to compose under the current circumstances.

P-Noy’s “final” challenge, however, is to ensure that the transition to the next administration will be constitutional, peaceful and credible. The test will be to rally everyone to uphold the 1987 Constitution, which sustains the freedoms regained in 1986, including the freedom to choose who will lead us.

But the sad reality is that certain groups are taking advantage of this critical time brought about by P-Noy’s major missteps vis-à-vis Mamasapano and the unraveling of the peace process; his appointment of key officials under the “KKK” (kaklase, kabarilan, kaibigan) protocol, as personified by Alan Purisima; his seeming lack of urgency to appoint suitable officials to the top posts of the Philippine National Police, Commission on Elections, Commission on Audit, etc., as well as the omissions and commissions in the Comelec that can jeopardize the 2016 polls. These groups would rather throw away the Constitution and propose a junta as an alternative leadership mode in a presumptive “transition.”

But if P-Noy will leave a legacy that will parallel that left by his mother, who led the march back to freedom, it should be to keep alive the flame of freedom that is now threatened by power-grabbers.

P-Noy will have to recognize that there are “power bases” that will do all they can to bring him down despite the fact that his term is ending in 15 months, of which seven fall within the campaign period. Foremost of these are possibly some members of the Church hierarchy who are mobilizing self-proclaimed “Church people” to ask that he step down, when the motivation is really their perceived debacle in the debate over reproductive health, as well as their adversarial stance toward legislators who propose alleged antifamily laws. If these bishops had only been effective in delivering the message of the Gospel to their flock, with many now in the legislative and executive branches of government, perhaps they would not have to be a divisive force going against the current for national unity. They are even likely misfits for seats in the so-called “National Transformation Council,” as transformation may have to start with them personally.

Others equally motivated to work for an extraconstitutional transition are certain political personalities with their organizations and their resources; those who have been at the receiving end of the anticorruption crusade; the leftist organizations who project their presence in marches, rallies and demonstrations; and the members of the “NoyBi” group who are anticipating their exit from power unless VP Jejomar Binay becomes president. The likely sources of destabilization are military and police elements which the politically motivated groups can exploit.

There are also gut-level concerns, like those involving the Metro Rail Transit fare increase and the extension of the agrarian reform program, which can be used for mass action. Doubtless, groups will try to initiate and sustain a series of mobilizations to determine if a critical mass can be generated. But “people power” can be abused as a means for destabilization when a constitutional mode for change is in place. The current situation is totally different from the 1972-1986 period. Civil authority reigns today. The process will have to be respected. Even Joseph Estrada had to go through an impeachment trial though this was aborted by a “people power” exercise that, on hindsight, should not have superseded the constitutional prescription. Unfortunately, though, the economy was sinking during that period, exacerbated by the Asian economic crisis. On the other hand, the economy today is very strong. The people have the luxury of time to use the constitutional options for change.

The election fever may have to be induced prematurely to change the prevailing mood and make everyone pursue a positive disposition for the changing of the guard. P-Noy’s blunders and prevailing mindset may already be fatal for the Aquino political viability. His term is ending soon, anyway, and he no longer needs politicking. The pressure might ease a bit if only there were viable potential successors from whom the people can choose.

Binay’s run has been sidetracked by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s inquiry into corruption allegations. The declared candidacy of ex-Presidential Commission on Good Government chair Camilo Sabio is nothing serious, bordering on a nuisance. The moves of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and of Sen. Miriam Santiago to test the waters do not seem to be gaining traction. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ presidential aspiration, basically banking on a P-Noy endorsement, may now be untenable with the Mamasapano fiasco and his being out of the loop despite the PNP reporting to him.

This may be a unique opportunity for “new politics” to finally get going. This can be the best time for a real alternative to face off with traditional politics and politicians. There seems to be a leadership vacuum. Enlightened leaders of various religious institutions, Christians and non-Christians, setting aside political biases and preferences and ego-tainted positions, and seeking divine intervention, can lead an initiative that will guide the people to choose the agenda they should pursue.

Hopefully, the possible movers of and conveners for these ideals will surface. The separation of church and state will be the framework. Their role will be to provide guidance so the dichotomy between the moral and the secular will not obstruct everyone’s pursuit of what is fundamentally right. Corruption has not been exclusively in the realm of public and private governance. It has been endemic in society. The delivery of the Gospel by all faiths must now impact the Philippines’ politics and value systems. Otherwise, politics and business as usual will be the norm, and the secular leaders will simply and sadly mirror the church leaders. The reality from more than 2,000 years ago will be continued. Power play on all fronts will persist at the expense of the teeming poor.

Danilo S. Venida (danilosvenida@gmail.com) holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of the Philippines and the Center for Research and Communication/University of Asia and the Pacific. He is a former president of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and is now a business consultant.