‘Daang matuwid’ negotiates bends

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

by March Fianza

Officials, both from the opposition and the administration have noticed something from PNoy’s latest delivery of his State Of the Nation Address. They are asking why the Freedom of Information initiative that he has highlighted prior to his winning in the 2010 elections was deliberately deleted from last week’s SONA. Understanding that priorities change every minute, they say that his promise three years go to prioritize the FOI runs counter to his “daang matuwid” battle cry even while this was partly responsible in giving him an overwhelming mandate. Whether PNoy’s reservations are due to party affiliation or personal, not mentioning the bill that has passed twice in the Senate has created a mystery and animosity between Malacanang and the proponents. Even Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda does not have the answers. It looks like no one wants to ask the President.

But all is not lost with the measure that was once reconciled in a bicameral committee three years ago. Senator Grace Poe, the daughter of silver screen hero Fernando Poe, who was chosen to head the Committee on Information in the Senate will show her “balls” the soonest by trying to talk to the President about the transparency bill saying she wants to find out personally from PNoy about his reservations or why the sudden change of heart. As a first step, she has filed a resolution in the Senate calling on the concerned committees to hold hearings on the elusive measure.

There are at least five FOI bills now pending in the Senate that were filed by Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, JV Ejercito and Alan Peter Cayetano, and one filed by the Right to Know Right Now Coalition through the people’s direct initiative. How sincere are the senators in following up their proposals, or are they merely nagpapapogi? That we do not know. A campaign promise of PNoy in 2010, the measure languished in the House committee on public information.

According to at least four congressmen I have talked to, the stalemate was caused by peoples’ organizations aligned with the administration who did not want to approve the “right to reply” provision in the bill. They said it would be unfair if a public official or government office that will be investigated as an offshoot in the application of the FOI law would not be able to answer the allegations against them. But at this time when corruption is rearing its ugly head in many government offices, all the more that PNoy needs the help of a measure such as the FOI law. But that is no longer the case as his “matuwid na daan” tries to avoid negotiating a curve.

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The timing is good. It looks like those involved in smuggling undocumented goods are safe, at least this time when the FOI bill is yet to be ratified. In his SONA last Monday, the President mentioned the Bureau of Customs as an agency under the operation of people with “makakapal ang mukha.” This part of PNoy’s SONA prompted BOC chief Ruffy Biazon to immediately text message PNoy and offered his resignation. In response, the President assured him of his continued confidence in him. Reformist and retired army general Danny Lim, Deputy Commissioner for the Intelligence Group, and Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Deputy Commissioner for the Internal Administration Group followed suit by submitting their letters of resignation. Malacanang apologist Lacierda has not confirmed if PNoy had accepted the resignation of reformist Lim and Tanada.

According to the two, their resignations will jumpstart a revamp in the BOC that has been pending for quite time. 

Apparently, Lim and Tañada felt alluded to in PNoys SONA when the President singled out the incompetence and corrupt activities of customs personnel. As humans, they were hurt that people would now conclude that they have not been doing well in their tasks, and their only recoyrse was to file their resignations. News reports also revealed that Lim has given his resignation to Malacanang for six times in the past, considering the pressures they have been getting from politicians and businessmen close to PNoy and lawmakers. He did not name names but the President knows who his friends are. This, even while the President’s spokesman said there will be no “sacred cows” in the revamp at the BOC soon.

“Tell that to the marines” should be Lim’s answer to Lacierda’s statement about having no “sacred cows” in the BOC revamp. Biazon, Lim, Tanada, Lacierda, and most of all PNoy know that allies and businessmen supporters are the ones who are getting in the way in the BOC revamp. With the FOI law in place, a house cleaning could have been easily implemented. This time, “daang matuwid” is unable to negotiate a road bend. – ozram.666@gmail.com