The best presidential offense

Talking to soldiers at a military camp in Compostela Valley, he said that in a democracy, people elect a president, and that was how he became president. “But you and me, we are just the same. We are both workers, working in government. Maybe I am your supervisor, but we are just the same. We’re both workers.” The soldiers were disarmed with his humility.

He then asked the soldiers to study profiles of terrorists, as he taught them that terrorists love to wear caps, sometimes wigs; and their eyes are wiggly and couldn’t stop moving. The soldiers saw a president-mentor – the first in a very long time.

Then he said that his priority is to give the soldiers body protection (bulletproof vests), and intelligence officers will get thinner vests to be less obvious.

He announced that he placed orders for 120,000 units of .45 caliber pistol – as he intended to give one to each soldier – this elicited appreciative applause from the men. He has empathy and knows what the soldiers really need.

In the same live telecast, he showed a folder, about half the thickness of a telephone directory, bearing names that include narco politicians. He told the soldiers, “When you make the arrest, and they resist, shoot them.” And apparently in jest (?), he said, “If they do not resist, shoot them anyway so that we can get them over and done with.”

He promised a good prize, like a house and a lot (that he will try to solicit from wealthy friends), to each soldier who can show him a medal of valor. And he assured them that no one will go to jail except him, if necessary, for their sake. He said that he who does his job does not commit a crime.

After his speech, the soldiers swarmed around him for picture-taking, like excited children. The above scene I just related, along with the impending “doubling” of salaries of military personnel, explains to all of us why today is the best time to be a Philippine soldier.

It is however the worst time to be secretary of foreign affairs. Precious time that should be spent bridging the gaps in relationships is now spent on damage control that’s gone overdrive. The flip- flops coming from impulsive outbursts and softening of stance after, unduly give an appearance of unpredictability to a country that is actually politically and economically stable. The truth is, even if the Philippines is dubbed as the next tiger of Asia, it is still a cub. Cubs can still be slaughtered by grown-up cats. And even when the cub matures, it needs to learn how to hunt in packs and belong to that community of cats to survive.

It is an understatement to say the world is interconnected. I would say the world is intertwined, not only economically, but emotionally. People learn and get offended in real time of things not necessarily happening in their own country.

There is a timeless mantra in criminal justice system that “it is better to let 10 guilty men go free than wrongfully convict an innocent one”. It even bears more weight to say that it is better not to pull the trigger on 10 suspects than to shoot by mistake an innocent individual. Because that innocent one can be anyone of us, or anyone we care for, at any place, at any time, in any circumstance that’s least expected. The ugly phrase “collateral damage” can only be acceptable for property damage, never for priceless human lives. That is why the US, the UN and the EU parliament’s sentiments are not out of line.

Some things can adjust, but certain things will not change with our President, like his war on drugs. So instead of defending himself from attacks on his program, he should employ offense as the best defense. I mean, he should implement and promote the other parts of his politics of change. Go back to opening up the economy by amending the constitution to allow Filipinos access to better service, harness private sector strength through public-private partnerships and turn around the approval and implementation of those infrastructure projects, and pay attention to digital infrastructure as well. Insist on the ROI of the more than P2 billion APEC Summit investment that was spent last year to invite investments here and improve trade and relations of the Philippines with the world. Rid the judicial system of corruption rather than deny people their day in court.

Go back to remembering the idea of a government for the people and an economic progress that brings inclusive growth. We are still moved by the determined campaign for genuine change by a president whose best asset is not statesmanship but sincerity and selflessness. But let not the campaign for change be through the politics of fear and death. Let bravery challenge the institutions of deceptions and lies, but let change usher in through the politics of hope – and life.

Alexander B. Cabrera is the chairman and senior partner of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines. He also chairs the Educated Marginalized Entrepreneurs Resource Generation (EMERGE) program of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). Email your comments and questions to aseasyasABC@ph.pwc.com. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.