Denouement of the Political Tele-Novela? (Updated)

Denouement of the Political Tele-Novela? (Updated)

Such an incredible drama unfolds in the Philippines today, where its citizens, glued to the TV and radio, are practically mesmerized and awestruck by the rapidly evolving chain of events, mostly centering on who or what party calling for either the resignation or support of the embattled Philippine President GM Arroyo. The political imbroglio takes an episode out of a box office hit Telenovela where the audiences appear to come to believe on what they need to believe just when they need to believe it. The public, as some survey shows, believes that the incumbent president cheated her way to victory and the wiretapped conversations simply reinforces these beliefs. The effect is an erosion confidence to the leadership thereby creating the demand for her to be replaced. Beliefs, justified or not, are what determines or shapes today’s box-office hit, a sordid spectacle which is actually an embodiment of the Filipino culture whose proclivities are mainly on perpetuating intrigues, controversies and self-righteousness. A manifestation of James Fallows ‘damaged culture’? Looks likely enough.

Yet adding to the woes of the already poisoned politics we have several regional leaders from Bicol to Mindanao threatening to breakaway from the Philippines by establishing their own ‘republics’ if the PGMA is ‘forcibly ousted’, claiming that the Metro Manila based turmoil “are affecting the rest of the country”. The regional leaders argue that Metro Manila have unjustly usurped the power to remove the leaders when they were also part of the electoral exercise in the selection of the national leaders. These pronouncements simply highlights on the country’s divisiveness, something which may lead to unnecessary violence.

This is precisely why I am in favor of the voluntary resignation of the President, again NOT on legitimacy or moral ascendancy issues but on the heightened RISKS of the escalating political tumult turning violent or a possible plunge into chaos or a civil war, on the RISKS that adventurous and misguided elements may intervene to wrest the country’s leadership through unconstitutional means, on governance concerns which seems to leave the President ineffectual as constant bickering and assaults to the presidency would result to self-preservation moves instead of a salutary functional leadership, the continued demoralization of key government institutions as seen by the resignation of 10 cabinet members, RISKS of a lame duck presidency, political compromises in return for support that may erode judicious decision making and the continued fragmentation of the society.

The manifestations of all these tensions have been reflected in the financial markets which likewise could translate to future economic paralysis and a possible financial crisis, until a resolution to the country’s leadership could be arrived at. However, I also do understand the administration’s defense, the constitution’s basic rights of presumption of innocence until proven guilty or proof beyond reasonable doubt. This is what makes things entirely difficult. Perception versus legality, yet perception appear to have the upper hand on this case. Perception has in fact become reality.

The Public’s choice of governance is set on very high ideals yet bereft of reality. Corruption has always been a key issue. While I have noted in the past that the corruption and inefficiency seen in the present government is largely systemic in nature and less on personality traits, the “revolutionary government” paradigm as espoused by the leftist ideologues are outmoded and failed experiment (just look at the China, the defunct Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and East Germany) alternatives. Likewise, the ‘transitional government’ version proposed by the rabid ex President Joseph Estrada’s supporters is an utter charade, as it primarily aims to reinstate the disgraced leader or its protégés, more than the upliftment of the people.

It also seems that alot of experts fail to address the issues of corruption and inefficiency to MORE government. In fact, ironically most of the proposed solutions are geared towards the issue of MORE government. They mistakenly believe that efficient and corruption free leadership is merely due to personal credibility, integrity and competence. In a system where MORE government thrives, particularly, excessive legislation and regulation, superfluous bureaucratic layers, red tape and interventions, is a system that breeds the patron-client relationship, nepotism, rent seeking complex, cronyism and administrative bribery, or in short, the fundamental causalities of corruption. To aptly quote a local congressman, ``You can put the Pope in Malacañang, and he will still fail because the system will make him fail.”

What could probably be done is to improve on our democracy, to paraphrase Moeletsi Mbeki, deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs and the brother of South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, on his views of how to improve Africa, through a model that could empower “not just the political elite but private-sector producers as well”. Maybe just maybe, a shift to the Parliamentary form of government could be a step towards the much needed reformation.

With a cornucopia of resources and talents the country is blessed with, the public continues to deny its existence and rather focus on instant gratification, dramas and controversies. Until we know how to count our blessings, we are preordained to damnation.