Awan babain da

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

“Awan babain da (They have no shame), the oftentimes drunken master and veteran newsman I rarely meet blurted out during a – let’s say -- socialization session.

He was referring to the midnight appointments made by Ate Glue and reported attempts to fast-track money-making midnight deals a few days to deadline that is now making a rocky transition to a new administration.

What got his dander? The display of raw power by Ate Glue and the actuations of those hungry for power who are sticking to their seats like epoxy. But he has some kind words for a few good ladies and gentlemen in the administration who, he said, still have delicadeza and are making the transition easier, by stepping down or declining their appointments.
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The leeches? They should be burned at the stake for making a mockery of the Filipino’s custom of delicadeza, he says with a poker face and fury of fire and brimstone. But, then, who can blame him. After nine years of this administration hounded by scandals and charges of corruption, commenting on it is redundant.

So let’s hear what he has to say. What he wants is for those appointed by Ate Glue to tender their courtesy resignations and give the new president a free hand in choosing his team. “Ngem dagitoy, awaaaan.Kapal muks talaga (But these people, they have thick hides),” he says.

His sentiments, methinks, are shared by many constituents of this Banana Republic. There are a few exceptions of course who have delicadeza like Ate Glue’s manicurist who turned down an appointment to the Social Security System.
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Ambassador to Iran Generoso Senga, a political appointee is another. He has tendered his irrevocable resignation. Police Director General Jesus Verzosa has promised to submit his courtesy resignation to the new administration. For declaring earlier that he won’t abide with unlawful orders, Noynoy wants him in.

These few good men and women provide a welcome contrast to those who are hanging on to their posts or rushing to have antedated appointments to tenured positions signed by the Queen beside the Pasig River.

At the Department of Foreign Affairs, political ambassadors reportedly sought a legal opinion from the Department of Justice that was used by Malacañang as basis for stopping DFA chief Alberto Romulo from recalling the envoys from their posts. Senga quit before the recall order was issued.
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Then there is Armed Forces chief Delfin Bangit, still with only three stars since his fourth has not been approved by the Commission on Appointments. He initially said he would also submit a courtesy resignation to the next president, but now says resignation would constitute cowardice. “What kind of logic is that?” drunken master says. “Doesn’t he know one must have four stars to be AFP chief?”

Those sitting at the round table in Luisa's Restaurant agreed other hustlers bagging tenured positions in many agencies, could be a problem for Benigno Aquino III from Day One of his presidency.

These, as reports of deals being rushed, such as those at the Land Transportation Office and the defense department, for procurements for the pockets of certain individuals are flying thick and thin.
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Anyhow, drunken master says, since Noynoy is making sure he is the boss from now on, he has to match his words with action. Noynoy reminded everyone Thursday that he has the power to hire and fire, and his camp is currently looking into midnight deals.

My friend beside the table says there are three weeks left before the new administration comes in and Ate Glue, for delicadeza’s sake, should stop the midnight madness in appointments and money-making deals.
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But then, again, he adds, this could be farthest from her mind as she is comforted by the thought that the controversial and top interpreter of the law she appointed is there at the helm. Maybe, drunken master says, top honcho could tender his courtesy resignation to the new president to ease divisiveness in this Republic Gone Bananas over his appointment now rocking the judiciary and legal profession.

He says he can explain the meaning of delicadeza to Most Honorable if he should merit as it seems nowadays, the word is lacking in the legal profession.