A civilian or a military for secretary of defense?

With speculations on who the President will choose to be his secretary of defense, it is time that we look at the geopolitics around us and determine whether we should have a civilian or a military officer to be his secretary of Defense. Both are good friends of mine. I campaigned for Gibo as a presidential candidate and General Esperon is not only a friend but a colleague in several campaigns for good government.

I remember Esperon saying once to me that although I may be right in pointing out the provision of the Constitution that civilians must at all times be supreme to the military but he has had experience of local authorities abusing their positions and making it difficult for the military in their work for peace and order.

Gibo was GMA’s defense chief in her administration. He is a good man but his effectiveness in a cabinet post requiring closeness to the military could be questioned. So I am not surprised if he asked for more time before accepting Duterte offer to return as defense chief.

Although the offer was made soon after Duterte won, it did not have the urgency that it now has. I know that for a long while he did not want any position in government. All he wanted was a quiet life and to work for a living in private business.

Teodoro served as DND chief from 2007 to 2009 under former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, before resigning to run as the standard-bearer of the administration party for the 2010 elections.

I was present at a lunch with his relatives and sisters who were hoping that he would not give up public life. He was very popular but to this day we do not know just how many votes were taken away from him that went to his cousin Noynoy Aquino.

In my opinion we need both a Teodoro and an Esperon as secretary of defense. It is a hard choice.

But it is true that a secretary of defense who is out of touch with geopolitics will not be as effective in government today. Actually someone made the point to me in the case of a national security adviser. He must have an intellectual background in touch with geopolitics. President Duterte must be in a quandary on who his choice would be. Abangan

In American government the Secretary of Defense is assisted on public affairs. The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. He is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy

Secretary of Defense for public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters in support of Department of

Defense activities. At the same time he is in charge of a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. The assistant to the secretary follows the Secretary’s Principles of Information in providing Defense Department information to the public, the United States Congress and the media. I think the mismanagement of the country by Noynoy is what prodded Filipino voters for change. He was a laid back chief of state and did not have the qualities of leadership. We just tolerated him to finish his term. The China question and his subservience to American foreign policy were also cited in looking for a different leadership. And then of course, he represented the oligarchy that for many Filipinos have become abusive in the use of their government positions. That, more than economic reasons, although equally disconcerting was what led to Duterte’s victory. The comparison between the two, one of the elite and the other a cussing provincial mayor, became a lively contest with a strong incentive for change. We should never again have for a President someone with no administrative experience at all.

Just as it was in Iceland, Filipinos became more aware that it would not do to be fencesitters. They are now more willing to seek accountability from politicians, and that reforms would be made or the country would collapse. The election of Noynoy was a betrayal of public trust and should not happen again.

History will cite these times as a political awakening and the beginning of a grassroots, civic movement for constitutional reform. Finally we are beginning to see the light. We are in critical times and this was the cue to insist in a more participatory role for ordinary citizens in drafting a new constitution.

In Iceland, there were assemblies, community meetings and online discussions, as a conversation on the constitutional structure unfolded. According to those in the center of political activity, it was this mood that led to the drafting of a new constitution.

A dedicated social media columnist, Jose Alejandrino is ecstatic about the reaction to his recommended proclamations if Duterte finally decides that he needs revolutionary government to carry out his reforms.

The proclamations went viral and led groups to organize and do more to convince the President to declare a revolutionary government.

Alejandrino has proposed the following proclamations.

Proclamation No. 1 – Reaffirming the will of the people as sovereign and supreme, abrogating the Cory Constitution, and establishing a revolutionary government with full powers.

Proc. No. 2 – Appointing members of the Cabinet of the revolutionary government based on performance.

Proc. No. 3 – Restoring the Supreme Court and appointing its new members.

Proc. No. 4 – Directing the Supreme Court to create special courts to try cases of heinous crimes against the State and establish quotas with a time frame for their resolution, their terms of reference, and corresponding penalties for non-performance.

Proc. No. 5 – Expanding list of heinous crimes punishable by the death penalty.

Proc. No. 6 – Establishing a stiff anti-terrorist law and its parameters.

Proc. No. 7 – Reaffirming the role of the AFP and PNP as guardians of the State and protectors of its people with penalties for erring and abusive personnel.

Proc. No. 8 – Reaffirming an independent foreign policy and friendship with all nations.