“I have always believed that he was an incorruptible public servant within a hopelessly corrupt system.”
We paid our respects to former President Noynoy Aquino who I myself have always believed was an incorruptible public servant within a hopelessly corrupt system. May he rest in peace.
Despite our harsh criticism of PNoy’s administration, his untimely demise touched a soft part in our heart. We lost a former chief executive who led the country in successful recovery from the difficult days of Gloria Arroyo’s regime.
We certainly do not wish to blacken his memory—but to say we must cast aside politics at this juncture with national elections just over 10 months away is simply false modesty.
Ironically, some opposition camps themselves hope this period of mourning gives them a silver lining to unite and a rallying point for their fragmented factions.
They believe this can be the catalyst in “awakening the people from the hypnotic spell of President Duterte” who continues to enjoy unprecedented popularity.
PNoy’s death can only crystallize issues of leadership, as the nation continues to struggle amid a worsening COVID pandemic.
Some controversies that have affected the nation crop up such as PNoy’s Dengvaxia debacle which is now blamed for the widespread vaccination scare.
There are claims that at least 160 school children died allegedly from side effects of untried dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, the procurement of which was railroaded shortly before 2016 elections, and then administered to thousands of pupils in public schools nationwide.
We must recognize that PNoy, like any other head of state, had both failures and successes. No leader is perfect.
Some political pundits said the overwhelming sympathy for PNoy may have levelled the playing field for the May 9, 2022 polls.
The Opposition looks to draw comparison and the stark contrast between PNoy and President Duterte, thinking that discrediting the latter would discredit his chosen successor.
One opposition lawyer said that what the country needs is another PNoy-like President to revive the momentum of the country’s economic development.
Unfortunately, PNoy has died and there appears none like him among his followers who possess the late President’s integrity and leadership qualities.
They can no longer duplicate the scenario when the Opposition practically took to stage PNoy’s campaign atop Tita Cory’s tomb to trounce Gloria Arroyo’s anointed candidate in the 2010 elections.
The bottom line is that PNoy has passed and has nothing to do with politics already. Let him rest in peace.
We may not set aside politics nowadays but, first, we must win as one people against the devastating plague of COVID-19.
