Anointed and disappointed - ROSES AND THORNS by Alejandro R. Roces

We are surprised at the great number of people who participated in the second People Power Revolution and who now expect to be given position in the Pressident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration. It is a clear indication that their main intention was not to topple an immoral and inefficient president but to ingratiate themselves to his legal successor. The first test of any new president is the calibre of men that he appoints to the cabinet. They are supposed to represent the best and the brightest. They should be academically prepared and with necessary training and experience. Political considerations should be secondary. Toppling Erap was a patriotic duty. Every individual who participated in the People’s Power in EDSA was instrumental in the ouster of Pres. Estrada. But it does not entitle anyone to an appointive government position.

Undoubtedly, some controversial figures have been appointed. Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado tendered his resignation because former Armed Forces Chief Gen. Lisandro Abadia was appointed as National Security Adviser. Abadia was Chief of Staff when officials uncovered the misuse of P6 billion in the Armed Forces Retirement and Separation Benefits System four years ago. It was Mercado that initiated the probe against Gen. Abadia. But Abadia says that the Ombudsman has not filed a case against him. In this case, former Defense Secretary Mercado played the dual role of the appointed and the disappointed. We admire his principled stand.

In the meantime, a group composed of artists, businessmen, politicians and members of civil society have voiced apprehension over the cabinet appointments made so far and alleged that there was a lack of transparency in the selection process. Cabinet members are presidential appointments. And there is no such thing as a definite selection process. Everything depends on the president’s individual judgment. The ultimate test is whether the president really chose the top individuals in their respective fields. The future of her administration will depend on the calibre of men she has appointed to power. That is what is important. The opinion of people who are griping because they were not accommodated with positions is not important. That is pure sour grapes.

The way we see things, the first and biggest problem that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration will have to face is how to overcome the country’s projected P200-billion deficit. Along with Congress, Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo has drawn up a program to address this deficit. Last year, the government registered a P130 billion budgetary deficit, P70 billion of which are unpaid accounts. The present administration will have to pay the "contingent liabilities" of the Erap regime. At the earliest, Secretary Romulo hopes that we can have a balanced budget by year 2004.