The Band-Aid Administration: 525,600 Minutes Under the PNOY Administration

The first year of President Aquino III’s administration is a struggle of some sorts. On one hand, the government that they would take over is predictable and consistent – if you talking about corruption and public anomalies. On the other hand, it is mandated to govern a mix of people who have lost faith in government, who wanted to go against the thieving government officials, or who simply wants to have a better life. Essentially, this dynamics created a ‘Band-Aid Administration’ out of a government trying to put a sense of closure to the entire decades of looting public coffers and twisting realities.

Of Fists and Fits: The Case of the Punching City Mayor

This is in reaction to Mr. Richard Dy’s ‘Why I’d Punch the Sheriff too’ as published in the Philippine Collegian on July 5, 2011.

The mythical Athenian hero Theseus once said that ‘there is no worse enemy than he who keeps the law on his own hands’. A tyrant finds it hateful when people reason with wisdom and live with a sense of justice because he fears they will shake his power. A tyrant leads with the force of fear, far from a system of legitimate power and institutions a democratic state enjoy.

For the democratic system to work, rule of law must exist and be preserved. For rule of law to be sustained, the law that the people has crafted must apply to all; be it to the poor (who should have more in law) or the ignorant (who knew nothing of the law).

Travel Advisories: The Unnecessary Addend of Unfounded Fears

Travel advisories are usually handled by the government in a not-so-controversial manner. Of course, the government personalities express some resentment over the issuance of such advisories. But most of the time, government would take the travel advisory in a stride, enforce most of the time temporary high-alert status on usual suspects and mitigate travel advisories by featuring neutralization of terrorist leaders or capture of terrorist camps and/or retrieval of the enemies war materiel.

However, when something that could have been passed off as a regular response to security threat situation was taken in an excessively belligerent manner, certain security concerns would be undermined. More specifically, partnerships against the growing war on terror are strained and the security administration capabilities of a country is undermined.  This article looks into the concerns that are uncovered when something as trivial as travel advisory become politically critical.

Back to 1989: The Implications of a Presidential Amnesty

On October 11, 2010, President Noynoy Aquino signed Proclamation No. 50. This proclamation grants amnesty to uniformed personnel and civilians implicated in the Oakwood Mutiny, the Marines Standoff, the Manila Peninsula Hotel Incident and other related events. However, would this act by the President result to the intended end-state? Would the move be consistent with the Daang Matuwid advocacy, or would it circumvent it?

Ang Daang Matuwid: Under (de)Construction

A year ago, I published “Beyond the Amber Ribbons”, a blog article that tackled my own set of personal observations and concerns over the whirlwind candidacy of then Senator Noynoy Aquino. During the time when emotions seemed to undermine reason, I posed serious questions on his candidacy. I have done so amidst allegations that I’m a paid hack of other candidates.

We already know what happened after May 2010. Noynoy won with a significant margin over the second placer Estrada. With the way things turned out in the campaigns and in the administration, a serious query was posed on the Philippine Political Situationer. What happened a year after? Do the questions posed to the then-presidential-candidate Aquino remain relevant and valid now that he is the sitting president? Here is a look on what have happened a year after.

The Day the Music Died in Manila: Part 2

Discussion of the various aspects of the  hostage-taking situation illustrated a number of problems emanating from the scenario. These includes some of the most critical errors that made a relatively manageable hostage-taking incident  turn from being under control into a raging drama that caught many, even non-Chinese  and non-Filipino, in a time lapse. Philippine Political Situationer observed that these grave errors were committed:

The House of Representatives’ Version of Constitutional Adventurism

On September 28, on a meeting initiated to define the future actions of the House of Representatives was called to order. The meeting was held to discuss the house consideration of the Status Quo Ante Order of the Supreme Court (dated September 14, 2009) and other issues that pertain to SC Order, which includes the reply to the SC order, representation of HoR in the Courts, and the possible action of the Committee with the pending status quo ante order. By lunch time, the Committee decided (with vote of 33 representatives) to set aside the status quo ante order and move on with the impeachment complaint. This article would delve into the implications of such move by the Philippine Legislative Body.

The Day the Music Died in Manila: Part 1

When a supposedly happy Chinese tour in the country turns into a deadly excursion with a deranged former police officer, things should be planned both on the operational and strategic level to ensure minimum loss to lives and property. The recent hostage taking did neither of the two. In the light of the mockery of every badge that hung on every police officer, this series would be comprised of two parts: one, an analysis of what happened and what went wrong, while the second part would be what should be done about it.

Security Governance: Democratizing the Security Sector

The world’s demand to more responsive, transparent accountable and participative government led to the development of the idea of ‘good governance’. Some countries, particularly in Western Europe, have been successful in integrating them into various facets of government, like security administration. Despite the moves to inculcate governance principles into the Philippine government, there are little or no moves to do such in its security sector. The Philippine security sector remains restricted and reactive which is mirrored by the manner by which security administration is handled by the Philippine government. With too many sociopolitical, economic and environmental vulnerabilities and security considerations, maybe the Philippines should start integrating governance principles in the security sector to make it more responsive to the calls of changing times.

General Bangit: Beyond Mere Words

In the light of every issue thrown upon him and in the light of everything he has done for us as a superior, as a mentor and as a servant of the people, I dare stand up for the person who made me change my mind about the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I think the accusations and invectives are arrogant, ignorant and totally uncalled for, especially for an officer who has spent so much of his life trying to do his best on duties given to him.

Yes, this is about GEN DELFIN N BANGIT AFP.

Our paths first crossed when I was a struggling researcher, fresh out of Diliman.  Even during that time we see a potential CSAFP in our midst. Not because he is a Gloria lapdog, but because he has the vision, the uncanny intellect, the capability and the heart to serve as the Chief of Staff of the AFP.  We believe in him because unlike many able officers of the AFP, he DELIVERS and he DELIVERS WELL.

An Open Letter to President-Elect Aquino

Mr. President-elect:

I have been critical of your candidacy because I don’t believe that you can deliver your promise. I have my reservation, and my moments of self-outrage over what you and your cohorts are doing in front of the television. But the people have spoken, and they want you in Malacañan: a decision that I whole-heartedly accept. But before you start your business as the 15^th Philippine President, let me have some words of advice for you.

Dahil POSIBLE: Rason Kung Bakit Suportado ko si G1BO TEODORO.

Sabi nila tuta siya ng Administrasyong Arroyo. Siya ang itinuturong dahilan ng palpak na operasyon noong kasagsagan ng Bagyong Ondoy. Siya rin ang sinisisi sa isyu ng korupsyon sa sandatahang-lakas at sa patuloy na paghahari ng Ampatuan sa Mindanao. Malapit din daw siya ka Danding Cojuangco. Ganyan po nila nakikita ang isang kandidato sa pagkapangulo.

Pero higit pa roon, iba ang nakikita ko.

GMA’s Queen Gambit

During the past few weeks leading to 2010 Elections, an ordinary newspaper reader would probably see the continuous line of news pointing to the alleged “defection” of a number of candidates from LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD to Liberal Party. Some claimed that over 100 administration executives and legislators have taken their oath as Liberals, including prominent administration names like Sonny Belmonte, Herbert Bautista, Vilma Santos, Ralph Recto, Jonjon Mendoza, Cesar Montano, Jerry Treñas, Hernani Braganza and others. The alleged exodus also spanned the entire country, focusing on key voter’s areas, like Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cebu, Iloilo and others.  All of these signs seem to point to something: that LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD is losing steam and LP is emerging as the major political party this 2010. Or is it?

Opening Malacañang’s Pandora’s Box

The recent news of GMA filing Certificate of Candidacy to run as Representative of Pampanga in 2010 Election has catalyzed so much uproar from anti-administration Filipinos. The move has been seen as an attempt of the sitting President to hold on to power, finding her way through the legislative loophole provided by the 1987 Constitution.  While it is true that doing so gives Arroyo a chance to put the Putin Formula at work, this explanation is too obvious. Given the way the Malacañang work, this issue looks more like a smokescreen to hide vulnerability and to hype impunity. This paper presents an alternative theory on why the Chief Executive decided to leave all pretenses and filed her certificate of candidacy to run as a legislative representative in Pampanga.

VP: The Easiest Road to Presidency

If there’s a position less preferred in the executive department, it would be the Vice President. The Vice is seen more as a jumping ledge not only for presidency, but even to the top local executive positions like mayoralty and gubernatorial ones. It is seen more as a support position than a full-fledged executive one. The provisions of the 1987 Constitution as well as the 1991 Local Government Code could further attest to the over-arching power of the Chief Executive over the affairs falling under his area of responsibility.