But is GMA really a wimp? - GOTCHA by Jarius Bondoc

Perhaps because they’re generals, or are old enough to have worked with her President-dad, or have been in politics longer, they think Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is a wimp. Maybe it’s because she’s a woman, or that she looks too short beside hulky husband Mike, or that she was in Joseph Estrada’s mediocre Cabinet. Maybe it’s her searching for consensus first before coming to a decision. Or can it be due to this deprecative line that she rode to Malacanang not on the shoulders of people power but on belated military capitulation?

And so they wave fists at her face, shove appointment papers for her to sign, or try to rattle her with coup rumors. One general even grumbled in public about his comrades being last-minute defectors, thus muddling his real beef with the system. And Senate President Aquilino Pimentel belittled her political mettle by suggesting that troublesome Estrada be allowed to go on self-exile instead of face charges of plunder.

Through all this, GMA has stood her ground - much to the dismay, ironically, of civil society which has only good intentions in unsolicitedly advising her.

Multisectoral groups that put some semblance of organization in EDSA-Part 2 worry about two matters: good governance and justice. They complain that, although GMA promised young, new faces in her Cabinet, most of those they see are old pols and generals. GMA did admit so, but clarified that she’s not recruiting trapos, traditional politicians who use guns, goons and gold to attain and retain power. As Executive Secretary Renato de Villa echoed, "I know I’m recycled, but I don’t know if I’m a politician, or an old one."

The complaint has to do with seeming intransparency of the search process. Retired government executives Chito Sobrepena and Pat Sto. Tomas, later joined by five others, had begun looking for possible Cabinet members a month before GMA’s sudden ascendance to the Presidency. Sto. Tomas had told a post-EDSA-2 gathering of nongovernment leaders that they had received and screened 270 applications, and selected seven. Not one has been appointed. Thus, the hue and cry that politicians like Raul Roco, Nani Perez, Dick Gordon, Simeon Datumanong and Pantaleon Alvarez had wriggled their way in. Yet, truth to tell, Roco and Perez were in the short list, along with fellow-pols Bert Romulo, Obet Pagdanganan, Gem Carague, Butch Abad, Jun Magsaysay, Lito Sarmiento, Mar Roxas, Mike Defensor. Generals, too, were in the list: De Villa, Willy Parayno. That Gordon, Datumanong, Alvarez and Lisandro Abadia are now the butt of public criticism is partly due to the fact, too, that NGO leaders are reluctant to serve in government.

The issue of justice has to do with GMA’s resolve to bring Estrada and cronies to justice. The legal system is tied up in technical rules of court, of evidence, and of due process. Thus, slow. Political and military leaders fear the possibility of Estrada finding time to withdraw billions from secret bank accounts to mount a coup d’etat or a congressional-local election campaign that will restore him to power. They raise as argument for disaster Estrada’s consistent 18-percent electoral popularity against GMA’s latest negative-39 percent acceptance in a survey conducted just a week before People Power-2.

But that is where NGOs, and GMA’s unlikely allies from the Left, differ with politicians and the brass. They don’t believe the survey that makes GMA look like a wimp. Even if they do believe, they’re sure that the turnout of millions at EDSA and elsewhere cancelled it out. Not only does the international community but the new opposition as well recognize GMA’s Presidency. To those who don’t, the NGOs and the Left have an answer: continuing people power. Assuming, of course, GMA lives up to their expectation, too, of continuing reforms.

* * *

INTERACTION. Raymond Lacaba, home.com: How can you rank Ed Ermita among those who value hard work and delicadeza (Gotcha, 24 Jan. 2001)? It’s common knowledge in Batangas that.... Sure, the people now in power are better than Erap and his gang, but let’s not kid ourselves either.

Etay Hilao, New York: Because of an empty treasury, government will have to tighten belts. One way is to stop legislators and staff from using public funds for overseas junkets during their breaks. One of them even included in his itinerary a visit to the Statue of Liberty – courtesy of the taxpayer.

Aida Aguas, aol.com: Yes, a great idea from Jim Paredes, why not set up a Truth Commission (Interaction, 24 Jan. 2001)? It’ll scare future grafters.

Jess Fernandez, Sacramento, Ca.: Adding to Jim’s suggestion, the Truth Commission should be formed in such a way that it will encourage grafters to come out with no publicity that’ll cause humiliation to them and their families. Marilou Diaz-Abaya, TV/film director: We got a Take Two, as we say in showbiz. We have a chance to reverse our negligences after EDSA-1 (Gotcha, 22 Jan. 2001). What a blessing. I’m optimistic we’ll get it right this time. Let’s follow through with sustained efforts to improve and fortify our respective roles in civil society. EDSA-2 is not yet finished. It will always be a work-in-progress.

The movie industry can do no less than provide Filipinos with new dreams, new hopes, new inspirations. There are enough filmmakers and artists willing and able to make the uphill climb to help reclaim our national dignity.

For starters there ought to be a law separating Showbiz from Politics. Or, movie personalities should be enjoined to choose one or the other. No dual roles, no rackets. If they choose to run for public office, they should be prohibited from moonlighting in movies and television shows. Stepping to and fro the realms of fact and fiction confuses and traps citizens in a mode of continued "infotainment," a condition that retards our ability to get things done rationally, systematically in the real world of nation-building.

Thank you for voicing your concern and suggestions to reform our country: Cesar Oandasan, Luis Martin Harder, Michael Manuba, Austria Hedriana, Jose Labrador, Jojo Taduran, Rem Reyes, Ed DeGuzman, Ross Gabino, Rogel Nuguid, Ched Arzadon, Rodel D. Macalino, Lakanbulan, Helen Gondex, Roy D. Berdin, Ed Olaguer, Cesar Francisco, Meloncollie, Noel Laohoo, Lito de Leon, Edwin Hugo, Michael Macale; Rodolfo Fermin, Dr. Benjamin Garcia-Azcue V, Tet Gambito, Arch. Lorenzo Raule, Rocelie M. A-O, Dindo Orosa, Dr. Salvacion D. Vida, Soc Conti, Moises Marcos, Francisco T. Rodino, Ayen Mendoza, Bing Ramos, Karen del Castillo, Rodney Rafols, Art Dimaano, Xana Batistil, Oscar Venturina, Lenlen Escalante, Jose Elizes Jr., John Cao, Maureen Miclat.

* * *

You can e-mail comments to [email protected]