To each his own agenda

Everyone in this country has his own agenda, most of it revolving around what can be summed up in one straightforward question: “What’s in it for me?” And obviously, in politics it’s even worse as far as pushing one’s own agenda is concerned. 

Take the dead-on-arrival impeachment for instance - a clear example of the fact that everyone has his own agenda. Everyone knew the impeachment proceedings were doomed from the very start, and that the complaint would never have prospered anyway. While accusations continue to fly that it was railroaded and done through bribes, it’s really a numbers game in Congress. And whether we like it or not, the system allows the allies of the President to derail any impeachment proceeding.

The incumbent occupant of Malacañang has certainly learned from the experience of Joseph Estrada, and she was not about to commit the same mistake by allowing the complaint to go further and ultimately be taken out like what happened to Erap in 2001. For sure, GMA also has her own agenda which is at the very least, to make sure that she rides out the rest of her term.

Unfortunately, former Speaker Joe de Venecia is the last person people would want to lead a “moral revolution.” His credibility has been tainted, and cynics believe he endorsed the complaint filed by his son and namesake Joey because both father and son have an axe to grind. As a matter of fact, people are suspicious that Joe de V’s ultimate agenda in suddenly endorsing the impeachment was just to promote his book. JDV knew fully well it was doomed from the start, being the very same person who maneuvered to derail previous impeachment complaints against GMA. No one really comes clean as far as their own agenda is concerned.

As for Joey de Venecia, everyone knows he blew the whistle on the ZTE-NBN broadband project because his firm, Amsterdam Holdings, was edged out. In the end, it is all about money and the fact that someone lost out in what could have been a very sweet and cushy deal.

People may continue to blame GMA for the problems of this country, but as I have repeatedly said, the actual problem started with EDSA II when we deposed a democratically-elected president through extra-constitutional means. (No doubt people are singing “regrets, I’ve had a few”… and EDSA II is one of them.) We went around the Constitution, and now we are suffering the consequences. 

The 1987 Constitution is said to be one of the longest in the world, with so many details covering a broad range of policies but ironically, it is full of defective provisions, some of which cannot even be implemented without the corresponding enabling laws from Congress. Aside from the protectionist economic provisions which are proving to be counterproductive and out of date (especially during the current financial crunch with world leaders calling on countries to avoid over-protectionist trade practices), there are other things that have to be amended.

For one, the power of the President to appoint the Ombudsman must be re-examined to avoid the same controversies that are happening right now with the office of the Ombudsman. Instead of being appointive, perhaps the position should be made elective like the District Attorneys in the United States. Another defect lies in the very fact that the 1987 Charter is silent on the mode of amendment. As pointed out by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, there is no specific provision saying both Congress and the Senate should vote separately on the matter of Charter change.

No doubt it’s the system that is the problem and needs to be changed, but obviously not at this time when so many people are already suspicious that the ultimate agenda is to extend the term of GMA. But then again, even the presidentiables have their own agenda. Definitely, they — particularly the top three in the surveys — will resist Charter change at this time because it will jeopardize their own ambitions for 2010. Proponents of House Resolution 550 seeking to postpone the 2010 elections and extending the term of GMA and all elected officials till 2011 should also stop to consider the prevailing sentiment of the people. Formal and informal surveys clearly show that the majority of Filipinos believe the Constitution should be amended — but definitely not at this time and not if it will mean the extension of term of public officials especially the President. 

These Congressmen should not stoke the already simmering resentment being felt by Filipinos who, coupled with the worsening financial crisis, are already up to their necks with controversies like the fertilizer fund scam and the Euro generals. Obviously, we cannot jumpstart a new Constitution by going back to EDSA — as some bishops are now openly advocating — because we cannot correct a mistake by committing another mistake. People Power II was already described by Time magazine as a mob rule, and no one in the international community will recognize any government that takes power through extra-Constitutional means.

The only option at this point is to start from square one come 2010. This country definitely needs a leader who can capture the imagination of the people and make them believe in the kind of change that is now happening in the US with the election of the first African-American president.

But more than anything, what is really essential is for everyone to have just one agenda. In one way or the other, all of us are guilty to some extent of thinking of our own interests. Until we all collectively learn to look at country first, we will just keep going around in circles with everyone having his own agenda.

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