I AM SAD to hear last week’s pronouncements from President Duterte about his possible resignation. Well in to this third year as President he is still doing well in the opinion polls. There is, however, a question mark over his health.
It is unusual, anywhere in the world, for a leader to say publicly that he is thinking of stepping down. Du30 should either stay (and say so) or go. Uncertainty is not helpful to efficient governance. If he is really thinking about going he should not worry about his successor. The Constitution is quite clear. If Duterte steps down, Vice President Leni Robredo steps up. (Art VII Section 8)
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I believe the successful sidelining of the legislative branch, particularly Senate, was a pyrrhic victory for the executive branch in the case of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s sacking. Since then, the Senate has raised objections to all communications from the executive branch. The most spectacular example is the disdain with which Renato Puno’s well-meaning federalist draft Constitution has been treated by the Upper House.
Du30 is finding that being President is not a step up from being mayor. He is particularly concerned about the fight against corruption which he says contaminates all levels of the government.
The chronic problems of poverty, corruption, and drug abuse are not being addressed effectively. Although there is an incremental reduction in poverty in percentage terms, this is offset by our burgeoning population. Consequently the number of people living in poverty remains obstinately at about twenty million. This is the equivalent of around forty cities the size of Bacolod.
The interrelationship between poverty and corruption is well-established. No wealthy country has a higher level of corruption than poorer countries. The Philippines has been sliding down the corruption league tale since the second half of the Aquino administration. In January 2018 Transparency International ranked the Philippines as 110th, the lowest position since the Arroyo regime. I was pleased when Du30 accepted the poor result without demur and I believe he does want to improve matters. Last week’s news that the Presidential Anti-Corrupt Commission (PACC) has found and dealt with malpractice in the armed forces of the Philippine Medical Center is welcome. Du30 should take pleasure in wins, no matter how apparently small.
In contrast, the Ombudsman’s office is of declining significance when it comes to fighting corruption. If it needs powers of search and seizure (of incriminating documents, for example), it should say so.
The importation of illicit drugs continues. It is not clear that the “war on drugs” is effective, despite the large number of people killed or incarcerated. It is high time that those held without trial have their day in court. Police stations are grossly overcrowded with unconvicted inmates experiencing deplorable conditions.
Sixteen million people voted for Du30 in 2016. Unless there are overwhelming health issues affecting the president, they should not be disenfranchised./PN
