International media have exposed President Aquino

“There is no leader, there is no government, there is no civil defense in the Philippines.” These were the words of renowned and respected CNN journalist Anderson Cooper, referring to the rescue, recovery and relief operations in Tacloban City days after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” devastated central Philippines. He also reported seeing dead bodies all over, while the survivors were starving, with nowhere to go.

It was an embarrassing report for President Aquino. His ineptness exposed, the President tried to make up for it by offering excuses instead of speeding up the relief distribution efforts. Unfortunately, he could not fool the global community as easily as he does the Filipino people who buy everything he says. As the son of national heroes and as the most powerful man in the country, the power he has to control the media and lash out at his critics is almost unlimited. But before the international community, he is having trouble using his clout.

The President wasted no time in demonizing his immediate predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, even as his administration took advantage of the pork barrel system. He relied too much on his popularity and used it to achieve his political agendas instead of easing the plight of the Filipino masses. With his focus on his political schemes and not on helping the people, Mr. Aquino was caught unprepared when the strongest typhoon ever to hit the Philippines flattened entire towns, villages and communities.

Cooper and the international media have exposed President Aquino’s poor leadership and incompetence, as well as his lack of sense of what is best for the people. And there is nothing that he can do about it but to offer more excuses to whoever is willing to listen to and believe his clatter.

—FRANCINE VERDUGO,

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