Issues of credibility

Undoubtedly, President Digong has many plans and programs which are good for the country. And at this time when he is barely nine months in office, it is really too early to perceive and feel the effects of these laudable plans. Most of them have not yet taken off the ground except obviously the much touted war on drugs. In fact this war was started by the police even before he took his oath of office when the killings of suspects involved in illegal drug trafficking noticeably and suddenly increased.

At this stage therefore, when he still has more than five years in office as President, majority of Filipinos are enthusiastically encouraging and greatly expecting him to succeed in achieving his noble plans and programs of government. Hence it is highly unlikely that there are already some destabilization plots against him. The growing public impression in this regard is that such plots are mere products of his hallucinations and signs of insecurity on his part. He should always keep in mind that, as the most powerful official in the land, he has all the power and resources to prevent and repel them any way. Talks about such plot should therefore be put to a stop. They will not help at all in the achievement of his worthwhile goals for the welfare and interest of our people.

Of course in a democracy like ours, criticisms, adverse comments and even the filing of impeachment complaints like the latest move of a Congressman cannot be prevented. These are provided for and guaranteed by our Constitution. Duterte should squarely answer them and disprove them convincingly. He should look at them more positively and consider them as attempts to correct whatever mistakes he may have committed rather than attempts to destabilize his government. If they are really stupid and “silly” moves, people will easily recognize and readily ignore them. People will stick with him and help him succeed.

These criticisms, controversies, doubts and adverse moves can be avoided if the President can be more straightforward, clear and credible in his pronouncements. Credibility is more important here. At this time people are still awaiting more concrete, perceivable and credible moves on his part. Apparently, the current prevailing mood is still one of skepticism because there is more talk and less action; because his actions appear to be merely for “show” and for PR purposes; and because the means he used in achieving his ends are questionable like the current Oplan “Tokhang” and “Double Barrel Reloaded.”

In this regard, let us take the case of the other “war” President Duterte has launched which is the war against corruption. Preventing corruption is really more urgent and necessary as it will also contribute to the alleviation of poverty in our land. Even the drug problem may be reduced because it has been shown that people resort to drugs mainly because they are poor and helpless.

In his statements, President Duterte has repeatedly said that he will sternly prevent corruption; that he will not allow even a “whiff” of corruption to permeate any government office. Maybe he could set the example in this regard particularly with respect to some issues relating to corruption that were recently raised against him.

Up to now, doubts still linger on his alleged P2.2 billion bank account that was raised during the election campaign and reiterated recently. He could have easily and convincingly erased this doubt if he simply signed a waiver against the secrecy of his bank deposits. This is the only way to prove that there is no such huge amount of transaction in his bank deposit because it is only his bank which has a complete record of the transaction.

Then just this week he also revealed to media that somebody gave him a luxurious and manifestly expensive “Mercedes Benz” worth millions of pesos. But he did not even identify the giver. He claimed that he turned down the gift although he did not return it. He said he just left it at the compound of the Presidential Security Group and will just put it up for sale with the proceeds going to the government.

To avoid any “whiff” of corruption however, he should have returned the car, identified the giver and even order his investigation for attempted bribery or violation of the Anti-Graft Law (R.A. 3019) enacted precisely to “repress certain acts of public officers and private persons which constitute graft and corrupt practices or which may lead thereto.” According to this law, “Receiving any gift includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly a gift from a person other than a member of the public officer’s immediate family.” To be sure, the law itself enumerates one of the corrupt practices of public officers as that of “directly or indirectly…. receiving any gift…. for himself or for any other person in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government or other party wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law” (Section 3 [b]). It may be contended here that if Duterte did not return the car and instead, will just put it up for sale, is this not indirectly receiving any gift for any other person?

Another “whiff” of corruption in a government office surfaced in the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) headed by Cesar Montano. TPB employees complained that Montano appointed several relatives to jobs in said agency whose functions are already being performed by incumbent employees. Then Montano also allegedly approved an P11.2 million contract with a production company which tapped him and several friends as guest performers, and paid another P16.5 million for the rally of Duterte’s supporters at the Rizal Park last February 25, 2017. Said agency also paid for Montano’s trips not related to his work.

Of course, like the whiff of bribery/extortion in the Bureau of Immigration that wafting up to the Department of Justice Secretary, these are mere allegations that remain to be proven. But to be credible in his war against corruption, Duterte should have already axed these officials instead of still backing them up.

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