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Council of State: political maneuver or circus?
[January 11, 2006]

Council of State: political maneuver or circus?


(Manila Standard Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Two interesting topics came up during the week. One is the activation of the Council of State. Second is the refusal of former President Fidel Ramos to join the opposition while, at the same time, insisting that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo step down by 2007. Due to space constraints, however, I can only limit today's column to a discussion of one of these topics. Perhaps, I can do the other one next time unless something with serious social and political repercussions come up between today and Monday. So?



What about the Council of State? I used to be a part of a national organization that had a similar "institution"-- an advisory body composed of all its former presidents. And every time the Council of Elders was called upon to give its "sage" advice on organizational concerns, every ex-president always knew best. Each was of the position that because he had the benefit of experience, he had the only valid answers. But what was really interesting was how each former president wanted a course of action that would not divulge mistakes committed during his administration. No one wanted the revocation of perks granted during his administration. No one wanted "formal policies" that would negate the grant of privileges based on "tradition". In short, each was interested in preserving the "unsullied" image of his own term.

What can be the logic behind the creation of such an advisory council? Doesn't every incumbent operate on the policy that he/she sought the presidency because he/she is capable of discharging the responsibilities of its office? When former President Corazon Aquino created her Council of State, having former Philippine presidents sit there must have been the farthest thing from her mind. I don't think it's logical to assume that she intended the only surviving ex-President, Ferdinand Marcos, to fly in from Hawaii from time to time to share some advice. The only reasonable presumption is that Mrs. Aquino needed an advisory body because she has had no previous experience in running the affairs of the country and any insights were welcome. It was an act of desperation, a humble admission of lack of experience and, at the same time, a serious political move to create a perception of the brand of democracy that she intended to institute.


But the scenario is different with Mrs. Arroyo. She has been in public service for a long time. She was a senator and a vice president. In other words, byt this time, she is presumed to know her job. As a matter of fact, hasn't she been vigorously pursuing policies that most of us feel are antipeople and pro-IMF? Yet, despite the pressure of public opinion, she has done things her way. Misguided or not, that attitude shows a certain amount of confidence. So what does she need a Council of State for? Of course, it is a political maneuver. Considering that the Council of State has no real power except to serve as a consultative body at the pleasure of the President, it can achieve nothing except to serve as a meeting place where opposing political and social forces can try to smooth their ruffled feathers. For the benefit of the public, it is an act of magnanimity and generosity. It is just for show, at the taxpayers' expense, of course. We won't pay them salaries but we will still pay for their food, drinks and incidental accommodations. If Joseph Estrada accepts, we will be paying for his transportation and security. Hindi barya `yun.

But that's me. What do other people think? Below are some comments from my Web log readers (yes, I am back online):

bote: "council of the wise? looks more like a council of the ass to me! there's really no end to ass-licking for this administration."

Miguk: "The Philippines is still a de facto theocracy. And God forbid if you happen to belong to other than the approved Roman Catholic sect."

Ludwig: "Is the Council of State even necessary to carry out the future affairs of the country? The President already have a battery of advisors plus congress and the senate to do the same job. I just can't believe how they can have the money to spend something as useless as this instead of more important matters such as infrastructure, education, economy and etc.. The Church wants to participate eyy. I support that they should be taxed so that every time we drop coins or paper bills in their saklit (collection basket or bag), they are obliged to provide us a receipt. LOL."

amicus curiae: "Chart the country's direction, huh? Are our government officials that dumb & naive, so as not to be able to discern where the country is headed to? A hidden agenda becomes so obvious. "Only in the Philippines", so they say? where an individual accused of a capital offense can even become one of the country's top advisers & evaluator of progress. Well, let's just sit back, relax & watch the `show of life' unreel."

Jon Mariano: "Gloria Arroyo is a very shrewd woman. Everytime she senses some danger, she will come out with something to dissipate the heat. She's doing it again."

"Why do prelates have so much influence? Because politicians believe prelates can bring votes during elections. Why do politicians coddle squatters? Because politicians think squatters will vote for them come election time if they're left alone.

"It just shows our politicians being spineless and people who cannot stand on their beliefs. They're people willing to mortgage anything as long as they win elections. They're leaders that don't have political will.

"Did you notice that not a lot of our leaders say "this is what I believe"? To them everything is a matter of compromise. That is why this direction of having a "council of state" will again be a matter of compromise.

"My idea is that since FVR is posturing to politically dump GMA, she has to have something to take the momentum away from the opponent. If it goes thru or not, the bottom line is that GMA still stays in power. Very shrewd!"

Acidboy: "I vehemently protest this! i deserve representation! i am also a filipino citizen demmit! gma better get a party-going, alcohol-inducing, women-loving, work-avoiding, chain-smoking retard to represent me and my kind or i will protest in the streets!

"oh, wait. thats what congress is for pala."

Manuelbuencamino: "Arroyo is inviting only those she considers as players. The other sectors you mentioned obviously did not make the grade. Arroyo plays power politics in its purest, hence amoral. Principles, scruples, decency, right and wrong, good and evil, do not belong in her vocabulary. Accept that and you will never be disappointed. Remember -- You cannot apply civilized standards to Arroyo."

Sarah: "where do i apply so i can also have money for nothing?"

Chris: "Aaah?now I know she's REALLY lost her mind. Nothing against women presidents but it is funny that this one is showing about as much backbone as the last one."

Rudy: "Council of State! What is this a club? Where is democracy where people elected by the people should represent their voice. Equal representation from every sector of the population should be the norm of governance. The Congress should insist on its function."

Allen: "To chart the country's direction? And their getting reps from different sectors? Uhm, di ba ito yung punto ng pagkakaroon ng eleksyon? Nawiwirduhan na talaga ako sa style ng democracy natin.

"At Council of State pa kuno? Hm. Reminds me of Lord of the Rings. Next thing you know, the so-called Council will form another group of people -- to be called: Fellowship of the State."

Those are unedited comments. I changed nothing, even for style purposes. That's so I can relay to this column's readers other people's sentiments in their own words and in the original tone in which those words were written.

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