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Friday, March 29, 2024

State of lawlessness and anarchy

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President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his third State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress later today. For sure,  the President  will give a glowing report of accomplishments during his two years  at the helm of government.

Officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office say the speech is estimated to last at least 30 minutes. That is, if Mr Duterte does not do his usual rambling, ranting and raving. Then expect it to be longer.

The supermajority allies of the administration and the congressmen’s wives in their fashionable dresses for sure will applaud  almost everything the Chief Executive says.  But the truth of the matter is that the State of the Nation is far from ideal. It is Sona, or Sola—A state of lawlessness and anarchy?

Expect the President to speak lengthily about his relentless war on illegal drugs and his campaign against government corruption. But the reality on the ground is that the crime rate is still high contrary to what the Philippine National Police claim that it has done. Just listen to the morning and evening newscast of all the major TV networks.  Killings particularly of priests, local officials  plus the daily reports of ambushes by hired killers riding in tandem on motorcycles is common  occurrences. While Duterte can be credited for firing government officials with just a “whiff of corruption,” malfeasance in his administration apparently is more than a scent. To wit: Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo was fired for allowing a multi-million  DoT advertising contract to a radio-TV program hosted by her brother Ben Tulfo. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has also been replaced. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is being accused of alleged extortion by a labor recruitment agency. The Commission on Audit is questioning missing funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.     

There is a time-tested saying that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Why did the consultative committee (Con-Com)  allow a total overhaul of the Charter instead of just amending certain sections like banning political dynasties and ending prohibitive  economic provisions that discourage  foreign investors from coming  into the country? Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea with their liberal investment laws are more economically progressive.

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We are hoping the President after his Sona speech does not convene the joint session of Congress into a constitutional assembly or Con-Ass to railroad the draft charter and federalism for passage.  The opportunity is there. But can the President do that?

There are of course pros and cons for the shift to federalism. But the best argument against federalism is the enormous cost it would entail. Next year’s national budget is estimated at P3.7 trillion. A shift to federalism is like starting a government for a new nation.

Yet, the congressmen want to totally change the 1987 Constitution for their own selfish end. A switch to federalism, as proposed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, seeks to shelve the 2019 mid-term elections  for local officials and the incumbent senators and congressmen. Alvarez and his ilk would benefit as they won’t have to  spend campaign money to run for reelection.

Alvarez, according to voters polled in Davao, is facing an uphill battle against presidential daughter and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte. The long-range game plan, according to political observers, is for Inday Sara to run for the House Speakership and ultimately as vice presidential running mate of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bongbong, if he wins his vice presidential election protest against  VP Leni Robredo. As vice president, Bongbng is expected to consolidate his power during the transitional period for election either as president or prime minister depending on Mr. Duterte’s own short-term plan.

Will Digong step down to hand over power to Marcos, Jr.? He had stated earlier that he would not relinquish the presidency to an “incompetent” Vice President Robredo.  

It does not take a rocket scientist nor an accomplished accountant to estimate the enormous cost of switching to federalism.

The Supreme Court alone will be increased to four sub-courts. Under the federal system there will be four branches of the Supreme Court—the regional administrative, a federal court, a constitutional court, an electoral court and the main Supreme Court.  Subdividing the Supreme Court would mean additional expenses.

Increasing the number of senators from 24 to 30 and the congressmen from its present 290 to 400 and their component staff is going to add to the cost of running a government.

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