Being president

Being president of a country is like getting accepted into an exclusive club not open to everybody, an honor and a privilege given to a very select few. In the Philippines, there have only been 14 members of that exclusive club, to which Noynoy Aquino was invited, officially applied and was resoundingly voted in as the 15th member. That in effect is what President Noynoy got himself into, although he admits never in his wildest dreams did he ever expect it.

During his inaugural address, President Aquino proclaimed the people were his “boss.” He also said all elected officials are entrusted with the power of government to uphold the good of the people above anything else. One remark that seemed to hit the right note was his disgust with abusive individuals, particularly those who indiscriminately and excessively use sirens or “wang-wang.” And to set an example, the president vowed not to use sirens himself.

Judgingfrom the blogs I have read, ordinary Filipinos were divided on that simple issue. Some agreed with P-Noy because they too hated power trippers and bullies who use sirens to ram their way on our already clogged streets and highways. But many also disagreed. Generally they said he and the top five officials of this country should be exempted from this ban.

I definitely agree that the President, Vice-President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice, as provided by the law, should continue using escorts to move around for their official duties. After all, whether the President likes it or not, he occupies the highest position of the land and is no longer an ordinary citizen - at least for the next six years. At the end of the day, he was chosen by stakeholders of this country to be its CEO, ultimately making him the real boss.

Part of being president are lifestyle changes that inherently go with the stature and position, including perks – a lot of it necessary – such as security escorts and the use of the now-famous “wang-wang” to ensure quick and smooth mobility as he travels to his destination. All of these are part of important security measures. Former FBI agent Steve Cutler, currently the Director for Pacific Strategies and Assessments, told us at the US Embassy reception the other night that we live in dangerous times, and moving quickly from one point to another is a key element in securing a person especially a high-value target like the president.

He rightly pointed out that not only does a leader of a country put himself at risk, but even ordinary people who stop in regular traffic around the President’s car could be endangered in case of an ambush or a crossfire. Certainly, the former FBI agent says, people will clearly see and understand this.

Vice President Jojo Binay was right – high officials must move quickly from one destination to another for very obvious reasons. Besides, as the Veep pointed out, it would be silly and ridiculous for the President to be late because he was stuck in traffic – which is exactly what happened when AFP turnover ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo were delayed because P-Noy endured the slow-paced traffic in EDSA for half an hour. 

In the United States, the Secret Service takes great pains in ensuring the security of the Commander-in-Chief, most especially with the history of assassinations and foiled attempts on the lives of some past presidents. In fact, former president Jimmy Carter – who insisted on carrying his own bag – is said to be the “least liked” president by the Secret Service because he made security a nightmare for them. He forbade Secret Service agents to carry weapons inside the White House, and the worst was when he insisted on making his aide carrying the famous “nuclear football” stay in a location 15 minutes away from his home in Plains, Georgia. This breach of security made the US virtually vulnerable to being wiped out by a nuclear attack before the aide could get to Carter.

It’s understandable if Noynoy wants to live a simple life the way he did before he became president – but unfortunately or fortunately depending on how one sees it – that lifestyle is no longer possible. Filipinos certainly understand such changes that befit his current status in life. Like Americans, Filipinos should take pride in their president and not resent the symbolisms – or even the trappings – that go with the position. In the United States, one important symbol is Air Force One. Not only is it important for the security of the US President but is also the symbol of his country’s power and might especially when he travels abroad.

We may not be a powerful or wealthy country like the US, but it’s high time the Philippine President has his own aircraft and not be dependent on borrowing from well-to-do businessmen, which is an obvious source of potential corruption. Sadly, the Philippine Air Force is still using the old Presidential Fokker 28 acquired over 30 years ago. Having 7,100 islands, a leader of this country needs to be able to travel safely by air. People remember Noynoy’s father, Ninoy, when he was one of the first to use a helicopter for his senatorial campaign. Ninoy knew the use of a helicopter would give him the aura of authority many voters, especially in the provinces, wanted to see.

Many Filipinos may appreciate President Noynoy when he said that the people are the boss, but in reality they voted for him to take charge and be the captain of their ship, expecting him to steer this country literally towards the “promised land.” Ultimately, when all is said and done, “the buck stops with him.”

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