To those who are calling for P-Noy’s resignation: Are you out of your minds? Rational behavior requires an action, or decision, to be “worth it”—that the extra benefits arising from that action should exceed the extra costs. I challenge them to show that this is the case in P-Noy’s resignation. I am, of course, talking about benefits and costs to the country, not to private individuals.
Off the top of my head, the major cost to the country of his resignation would be that we would have Vice President Jejomar Binay in the driver’s seat, just in time for him to ensure his election in 2016 and everything that it implies. Do we really want that?
What would be the benefit to the country? Or, put another way, would Jejomar Binay be better for us than P-Noy?
Say what you will about P-Noy, he is not at all tainted with any charge of corruption or of unexplained wealth. And he has waged an unrelenting, albeit sometimes reluctant, war against it. And the results of that war are shown by the country’s generally improved status in international indexes of corruption and overall competitiveness. Now, judging from past experience, would Jojo Binay do any better?
Have you heard of P-Noy benefiting from stock market movements or freebies from friends? Have you heard of him breaking bread with possible contractors for multimillion-peso projects, or taking cuts from winning contractors? No. And, of course, because of his unmarried state, his name has not been connected with mistresses who take advantage of his position. Can we say the same for Binay?
So what is the beef against P-Noy? Starting from his latest sins of commission or omission, he may be partially responsible for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force commandos and the 14 “enemy” killed, plus four civilians, who are also, by the way, Filipinos. The reports of the investigation teams haven’t come out yet, but judging from the evidence presented, it is shaping up that way.
There is also the issue of his not being at Villamor Air Base when the remains of 42 of the 44 arrived, choosing rather to attend the
inauguration of a Japanese automotive plant. He was crucified for this in the media, but I attribute this lack of sensitivity on his part to his being a male, and not having a wife to tell him what counts. But he surely more than made up for this by giving them quality time during
the wake.
I think what he is most guilty of in this regard is the bypassing of the chain of command (Leonardo Espina) and using a suspended officer of the Philippine National Police (Alan Purisima) in this effort. We do not know for sure whether this is true, but assuming that it is, is it enough to let Binay take over the reins of government?
There are other “sins” I have accused him of in the past four and half years. One is excessive loyalty to his friends. Purisima is one of them; he apparently saved P-Noy’s life in one of the coup attempts against the first Aquino administration. Then we must remember Rico Puno, the interior undersecretary whom he trusted more than he trusted Jesse Robredo. There was also another shooting buddy, the unlamented Virginia Torres, whom he chose over then Transportation Secretary Ping de Jesus’ objections. Negatives.
But weighed against those are the great appointments he has made: like Babes Singson of Public Works, Leila de Lima of Justice, and Kim Henares of Internal Revenue, who were not long-time friends but were chosen because of their record. Positives. Add to those such appointments as Carpio Morales as Ombudsman, Pulido-Tan and Mendoza as Commission on Audit chair and member, respectively, and Sereno and Leonen to the Supreme Court (none of whom were kabarkada or kabarilan or kaibigan either), and you’ve got a record that is hard to beat.
I last criticized P-Noy for his handling of then Health Secretary Enrique Ona. Ona was also chosen on the basis of his record. Good. But he was subsequently treated very badly, and dismissed to make space for Janette Garin, a politician. It was almost the same way he handled Gus Lagman, a good appointee whom he sacrificed in support of Sixto Brillantes at the Commission on Elections. Questionable.
I now have another criticism to level a P-Noy: Note that the three constitutional commissions—the Comelec, the COA and the Civil Service Commission—are now headless, with the Comelec also having two other vacancies in its 7-person team. And there seems, according to news reports, no sense of hurry or emergency on P-Noy’s part to fill them up. Now, that is irrational behavior on his part. The expiry of these officials’ terms were known from the date of their appointments. So three or four months before their scheduled departure, search committees should have begun head-hunting.
These are the three agencies singled out by our Constitution as independent commissions, and part of the check-and-balance system of our government. The CSC has undertaken many major reforms which should be institutionalized and continued; the COA, as well as its Citizen Participatory Audit project, has done a yeoman’s job. The Comelec hasn’t done too well, there’s the pity, and it has three vacancies that should have been filled upon the retirement of the incumbents. P-Noy’s cavalier attitude in this regard has to be severely criticized. Additionally, if he appoints persons who are identified with his political or party interests, or with personal axes to grind, then he would put at risk the credibility of the electoral system for the next seven years.
Add up all these negatives and compare them to the positives we can ascribe to P-Noy. No contest. That he has it all over his alternative—Binay—is obvious. Actually, others who are in the line of succession may not compare favorably as well. So I repeat: Are you out of your minds?
I am perplexed and at the same time sad that 44 lives have to be sacrificed battling the muslim problem in Mindanao. What puzzled me is how some Filipinos react to the incident either by personal hatred, partisan obsession or knee jerk reaction. Whatever motivated the group, the question remains, what will happen if the President resigns? Binay takes over and it's from the pot to the fire kind of analogy. This group have been comparing this disaster to the Bay of Pigs for US president John. F. Kennedy. However there's a stark contrast between the two incidents. The group launching the US attack was a defacto group rag tag group created by the CIA to topple a legitimate government of Castro. while the Phil force was special cops organized to capture notorious islamic rebels The US group was a complete fiasco and got captured. The rest of course is history but the Americans never clamored for Mr. Kennedy to resign despite the debacle and personal faults. They stayed with him and he turned out to be good for the country as a whole Inasmuch as we are comparing it to that event then we should be more mature and not react emotionally without analyzing the consequence..
FAIL : inuna pa yun planta sa pag salubong sa mga namatay para sa kanya.....
In this, at least, pnoy's obstinacy serves the weal of the Philippines. Those useless lefties and injurious clerics have their agendas and axes to grind (v. pnoy). Of course, I will not put it pass that inexplicably corrupting boy scout of Makati to use some of his lucre to speed-up his ascension to that coveted Malakanyang seat.
We may have lost our heroes, the SAF 44, and other Pnoy's failures ( and lots of them) but I can swallow all of those rather than we will lose the whole Philippines once Binay is in power. NO to Binay! If we love our country we will make sure that the Binays will be out of power. Salamat po!
KOREK. NGAYON PA LANG IPINUWESTO NA LAHAT NG ANAK SA PULPOLITIKA E PURO MGA BOPOLS NAMAN. " BAKIT PO KAYO TUMATAKBONG________. NONSENSE, "E KASI MATAGAL AKONG SECRETARY NI MOMMY AT DADDY." PINAKASTUPIDONG SAGOT NA NARINIG KO FOR ONE WHO IS AIMING TO BE A STATESMAN OF THE COUNTRY. OBIOUSLY A ROTTEN POLITICAL DYNASTY SO CORRUPT TO THE CORE.
What would be the benefit to the country? Or, put another way, would Jejomar Binay be better for us than P-Noy?
As they say...nobody is indispensable...there are better person waiting.
Why not on Binay.
YOU REALLY OUT OF YOUR NUTS MAN!
Why not on Binay.
....YOU ARE STILL A.....
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▒█░▀▒█ █▄▄█ █░▒█ █▄▄█ █░░▀█ .... and ....
huwaw....thief yes...moron??...hmmm too smart for that
Because Binay is a Granddaddy of all Thieves. I'm afraid we'll lose our country once he is in power.
The trouble is Pnoy cannot differentiate the important from the urgent.
Resignation at what cost?...No cost at all.
Paper and pen lang naman yan ah.
Tama ka diyan Mare, your criticisms were almost all true and I agree with you.
Tama ka Mareng Winnie.....somebody out there in the dark is anxiously waiting but won't succeed as everybody's back to their senses....nag ka emotional lang sandali.
OK, OK SIGE NA NGA, BUT CAN YOU TELL HIM TO START THOSE INFRA PROJECTS IN HIS REMAINING 17 MONTHS....? SPECIALLY THOSE PURO-POWER-POINT?
Mareng Winnie, I agree with you 100%! Definitely NO to Binay in Malacanang.
you must out of your mind, if you think he should keep his job..... whether today tomorrow or next year.
"Et tu, Brute"? Pati ikaw, Brutus? Gusto mong mag-"resign" si PNOY? Si Binay
ang papalit, hindi ka ba nanghihilakbot? Mag-isip ka naman!
Indulge me and let me know why you think he should resign.
Go read what the previous Japanese PM did...also read what the Korean ex-Pres did on suspicion of wrong doings during his term.
So you are going to base it off of what leaders of other countries did? Bush never resigned, Putin is still in power so is the Syrian President. Surely they have done much more evil things in this world but i digress, tell me how you really feel on why Pnoy should step down.
Ms. Monsod the troubles there in the Philippines is the Filipinos are easy of becoming a prey,they don't think first before sympathizing on issues. And not only that Politicians, Reporters or Media Practitioners and Journals they will use this for their own Personal gains but not for the public benefit. Some of the Opinion Makers that i have read in the Newspaper are attacking the leaders of the Country without a solid base evidence that will serve as a proof in the issues they are giving. They just do it for the reason that they will become a sensational news maker, and how the editor approved it? Very lucky nowadays because no more Dictatorship or Martial Law,how i remember those days. Also,the Filipinos are always a looser's when it comes to sentiments it takes a while to overcome the issues because of too much emotion and plus the SULSULERO effect. Too many sympathizer but not helping in solving the matter. It takes weeks, months and years before they realize the on going issue's.It's the Filipino's attitude, like now calling the resignation of the current leader of the government, the problem they have no proper agenda or what will be the effect of it. And what it cost for the public. Filipinos are always jealous they will not let go any single item from big and small things. They need to educate more themselves before sympathizing and not to be carried straight away by emotions.Filipinos are too much in POLITICS AND RELIGION that is the Problem, that is why the country is not moving on so fast in terms of Development and it does not help to sustain the improvement of their life.
TRUE. WHY THEY WATCH STUPID/WRETCHED/RUBBISH TELENOVELAS 24/7 AND IMITATE WHAT THEY SEE. FILIPINOS ARE TOO GULLIBLE THAT CRITICAL THINKING IS ALWAYS THE LAST THING THEY WILL DO. SHOOT FIRST BEFORE THINKING. MORONS. CORRUPT POLITICIANS AND GREEDY MEDIA PRACTITIONERS ARE FEASTING ON THIS FILIPINO ATTITUDE OF BEING SO IRRATIONAL AND GULLIBLE. WAKE UP. WAKE UP! MAN HAS BEEN ON THE MOON SEVERAL TIMES AND THE WAY WE THINK IS STILL JURASIC.
Well-said, Ms Monsod! Coming from a respected journalist, this should embarrass those who are exploiting the situation to lynch PNoy! Thank you, Ms Monsod, for speaking out for the Silent Majority.
The emotional tsunami generated by the media was enough to swamp even the jaded. The SAF men died in the performance of their duty. Whatever omission Pnoy did, indeed, is not enough to throw him to the dragons. The media really wrung and still wringing this issue dry and a lot of political wannabes and their respective "talaba" are exploiting the emotional tsunami to the max. It is more disgusting than the actual mutilation of the dead bodies of the SAF 44.
I am no Pnoy fan but one do need to think straight in cases where one needs to be objective. Ms Monsod did a good presentation of the debits and credits of Pnoy, and no one can rebut that objectively. Thanks Mareng Winnie.!! No to Binay, everytime.
'Yan kase ang expertise ni Nognog, ang tapak-tapakan si PNoy para umangat ang UNA.
Dapat kumilos na, pronto, ang OMB at dagliang ISAMPA ang kasong pandarambong vs Nognog sa SB bago mag-2016 elections!
Walang piyansa!!!
There is no question this President respect and trust the Filipino people when the condition warrants it. I agree with Ms Monsod the President is no saint and that is what we want in our president. He made mistakes but the far more important aspect of his presidency is the President allows the system to work its way by prosecuting the crooks in our society, respect the voices of the majority of Filipinos, has improved the system of governance, has not undermined the foundation of our democracy and lay the groundwork to strengthened our REPUBLIC. The fact that he is no CROOK is as important as the rest. The fact he took the risk the get the terrorist to protect and defend the Republic is righteous and in the INTEREST of the REPUBLIC. The enemies of the Republic are many and their noises and manipulation of facts and fiction are all clear for the decent FILIPINOS to see in using the death of 44 young brave soldiers to their own interest and advantage their crooked agenda.
Nice analysis ...I hope this would somehow enlighten some of our confused "kababayans"... more power to you Mareng Winnie!
BINAY would be a DISASTER to the country.We better wait for 2016 election.
Similar situation, same reason...why there was a general reluctance to impeach & throw out Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president----the Vice-President de Castro just didn't have it to be President.
It wouldn't have been just the "cost" in money (under Gloria) as there was a widespread fear of an apocalyptic chaos in RP.under Mr. Magandang Gabi, Bayan.
So, I wouldn't throw out a car, even in bad repair, if all I'll get is a skateboard with three wheels and loose bolts in Binay.
Make that two wheels with Binay. You'll never get anywhere.
Oh come on Mareng Winnie. Attributing the lack of empathy to maleness is just sexist. Hello, this is the 21st century. Such stereotypes are so dated. Noynoy for all intents and purposes dropped the ball on this one. The least he can do when he sends the nation's soldiers to die in the battlefield is be there when their bodies arrive. That said, I am pleased that he finally had the balls to accept responsibility for the whole debacle. If only his factotums who also failed in their jobs would have the decency to resign (Helloooooooo Mr. Ochoa).
As for the deluded Binay fanatics, DREAM ON. Just because our hand got broken doesn't mean that we'll willingly have our necks cut. Putting Binay in place of Pinoy would be like asking for cancer in order to cure a cold. I trust majority of Filipinos have not yet lost their sanity.
IN EVERY WAR THERE IS A FALLEN HEROES, THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN. WE SALUTE THEM. BUT HAVING TOO MUCH SENTIMENTS IT ADDED TO THE FAMILIES MORE PAIN WHOSE LOVE ONES FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM.
thank you!
as we slap pnoy... we should as well slap ourselves
no way do i stop any one from criticizing pnoy. i myself who is a supporter of him (not based on any affiliation, not by the drama that might have carried me away during his pre election which some points out) have my own list of complaints on him.
i weigh them though and still see him fit to be my president as i have a lot of pros than cons (this is based on my own scale, i accept each of us has our own standards)
like mrs monsod i have a lot of fear with binay's ascension.
but in general i dont anchor my principle in sticking with current leader due to absence of suitable replacement... as this will give the current leader the reason to ignore his own mistakes and commit such no matter how grieve they are so long as their presumptive replacement is hated by many more than they are.
fortunately thing (in my opinion) pnoy is not this kind and is still a good president. his administration as a whole (as driven by majority of his cabinets and programs) is gearing us in the right direction.
the cleansing period which i hoped to take place after earlier periods of blunder, altho is not completely so is surely taking place.
i am with those who criticize pnoy objectively, but i can smell those who crucify pnoy due to stinking reasons (candidates of whom lost in 2010 and have not moved on, idols and associates of whom are casualties of the governments anti corruption campaign who see and creep on every opportune mistakes to pin the government down but choose to be blind on other matter, and those who just hate the guy no matter what) and hope they would not hinder this government's drive and efforts.
any one has their right to call for his resignation. i hope tho this administration rises above such calls and comes out better from self re-evaluation.
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Well said. I actually feel the same way. You have to remember Pnoy was not voted as a majority president. There are still millions out there who are, i guess, still bitter from their candidates losing in the last elections. Too bad they never really gave the president a chance. It has always been hate from day one.
Salamat ulit, Prof Monsod!
Yes, Noynoy may have disappointed us so many times BUT he's the best president we've had in so many years. Better to be disappointed at times with Noynoy than have Binay the Thief for president. Binay will not only disappoint the Filipinos big time. He and his family and cohorts will rob and ruin the whole nation! Maawa tayo sa bansa natin!
Still Noynoy for Commander in Chief!
Steal Binay for Commander in Thief!
Hmmmm...18 months more. So when his appointees or as you say bad decisions wreak havoc on the government and are not taken off it's okay because there are more members of his cabinet who has done more good than bad?
It is a fact that he has his good side I must admit. The only thing itching my so called mad conscience is the fact that this bad decisions have caused pain whether personally or as a Filipino citizen.
I can't think of Singson's success of paved roads when I see my fellowmen crying. I can't see the justice De Lima has improved when the SAF 44 have not met their justice.
Yes, I commend this people but please do not hide the fact that his other appointees have tainted what this other good appointees have done. How can we move on from that?
And yes, your point about Binay is with a basis, better the lesser evil. Yet, PNoy is not evil if and only if he starts finding his balls taking out the bad eggs out of his cabinet.
The painful part their is how many of his appointees does he have utang na loob that he can't fire them? If he wants to preserve the dignity of Ninoy and Tita Cory he must take that stand. Then Madame I will tell myself I need to take some anti depressant and clear my mind off.
Masuerte pa rin si PNoy at ang bayan natin dahil pag pinatalsik siya si VP Binay ang kapalit niya, constitutionally speaking. Sa kasalukuyan paniniwala sa pagkatao ni Binay gawa nitong corruption accusation sa kanya na hindi niya masagot, natatakot ang bayan sa kanya at ito ay magiging sanhi ng matinding turn off sa taong bayan. As a result there will be less urgency in the need to replace PNoy, more reluctance in joining protest movements to demand his immediate resignation, more sobriety, and less political upheaval and uncertainty.. True, while indignation will persist and the desire to change PNoy will remain strong, the sentiment is that staying with PNoy until the coming elections will be less risky for the country than if Binay were given Malacanang on a silver platter just as when Makati was given to him on a silver platter when he was appointed OIC by Cory, or when he got himself elected as Boy Scout president, Hind na bumitiw, kapit tuko na habang "naglilimas". Yup, he is capable of doing this as he has proven himself wily, unscrupulous and deceptive, going by the experience of the Senate probe on the corruption charges against him.. Worse than a deaf and dumb person, nothing affects or moves him. Indeed, President PNoy, for selfish reason, should be thankful that Jojo Binay happens to be his Vice President.
BENIGNO WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS STICKY SITUATION if people under him not talk to the ignorant media.
People underhim should be directed to see Abigal Valte first before anything else. THEY SHOULD NOT TALK TO THE IGNORANT MEDIA.
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What the Filipinos need is a SPOKESMAN. A clearing house of all lies to make it one whole coherent lie.
44 Brave SAF Soldiers and the non-existent 20-forgotten.
President Obama went public within the day after:
1. Sydney siege
2. Japanese journalist beheaded
3. Caged Jordanian doused with gasoline and lit on fire
4. Mid-level Al Qaeda operative droned out in Yemen
5. 5 Al Qaeda wiped out in Somalia
6. and others
President Obama was silent when Marwan “was taken down”. Not within the day, not a day after. It’s been a week. No Obama. After FBI confirmed the finger it was Marwan’s still no Obama. Here are whys:
1. All heroes are talking to the U.P. journalists at the same time
2. All their stories to different journalists do not jive
3. Once all their stories put together, it did not make sense
4. Then came the readers puncturing all their heroic incredible stories
5. IN THE END, THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
6. No picture of the battlefield
7. No picture of terrain
8. No minute-by-minute timeline
9. One day after, the military brass started pointing fingers at each other over the fiasco
10.One day after, they military brass claimed they got DNA of Marwan matched WHICH IS VERY INCREDIBLE !!! UNFATHOMABLE!!! AND IMPOSSIBLE!!!
11. Just yesterday, After all the yapping, the finger was confirmed it belonged to Marwan based on DNA profile
12. The military brass told the people what happened but never told the people that they sent the finger to Los Angeles to be profiled.
13. After FBI confirmed it belonged to Marwan, INQUIRER SCREAMED “MARWAN IS DEAD”. In the Philippines if one lose a finger they are DEAD !!! FBI did not say Marwan is dead. It only confirmed the figner belonged to Marwan.
After the finger was confirmed it belonged to Marwan, ABCNews, CBSNews and Obama are still silent.
THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND THE PHILIPPINE MEDIA HAS NO CREDIBILITY.
NO CENTRAL CLEARING HOUSE TO AGGREGATE THEIR LIES INTO ONE COHERENT WHOLE. In Bin Laden take down, there was only one person that spoke. It made White House lies more credible.
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obama did not take any media publicity stunt about the operation to get marwan because it is a shame that the americans are involved, now hat what the heck you laughing for it is another failure of the american war on terrorism in the world. you are still a moron, americans are still behind in technology compare to japanese, chinese and koreans. isn't it ??? you have no more balls to become international police. look at yourself who ruled americans it a blackfellow niggah.
<---- at="" b="" hard="" is="" laughing="" obama="" very="" you="">
I am elected by the majority of the Americans where blacks are minority. That gives you an idea that even White Americans prefers me, a black, to hold dominion and rule over every whites and all living colored people and that includes your browned skin illegal immigrants.
HA!HA!HA! It was allegedly claimed that we trained them when in fact they were trained by PMAyers !!! HA!HA!HA!HA! Laughing very very hard.
Let us just assume we trained your people, therefore, the saying is true that "IT IS EASIER TO TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS THAN FILIPINOS OLD TRICKS". To put it into perspective, FILIPINOS CAN BE TAUGHT BUT CANNOT LEARN.
So, we got two out of the way.
WRONG! We are not behind technology. We developed technology and sell our patent. Or, we have some very low minimum wage workingclass commoners manufacture for us at a very low cost so my country men can afford it. HA!HA!HA!HA!
We are a great nation. We do not laugh at anyone that stumbles on their grammar and spelling unlike englischtzes-snob Filipinos.
That's why I respect this woman, Iyun lang!
Ms Monsod, those calling for Mr. Aquino's resignation are not only out of their minds but also against clean governance. These ignorant or, perhaps, unscrupulous Filipinos are against the progress of our country. According to Reuters, a credible international news agency, Philippines, under the Presidency of Aquino, may surpass China to be Asia's growing economy this year. Philippines has become a hot investment favorite. That's because of his platform of fighting corruption and prioritizing infrastructural improvements. The World Bank has even said that Philippine growth is now "more inclusive." And you are correct...Mr Aquino has never been infected with any allegation of corruption. The opposite is true about Vice-President Jejomar Binay. He is contaminated with too much allegation of corruption. Disgustingly, his wife, Elenita, and his son, the Mayor of Makati City, are just like him. These three are accused of being thieves
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Benigno, do not resign. That is my advise to you. Do it the BRILLANTES WAY. To spite the Filipinos.
Benigno should not resign. He should dig in to spite the detractors. He should do the BRILLANTES WAY. See my comments below
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It was a patent midnight deal, but Brillantes was unapologetic, even defiant, about it: “Despite all of the attacks, I still signed the deal with Smartmatic. I did not have to sign it but I signed it… They kept on attacking us, so I signed it.” - INQUIRER EDITORIAL
TYPICAL OF FILIPINOS. They know they will be in the wrong. BUT ONCE ATTACKED they do the dastardly act to spite the attackers !!!!
HA!HA!HA!HA! GOOD JOB BRILLANTES. THAT IS HOW TYPICAL FILIPINOS GET BACK ON THEIR DETRACTORS.
HA!HA!HA!HA! "LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE" This is the not the cure of the Filipinos because the Filipinos are not laughing. IT IS REVENGE !
HA!HA!HA!HA! But for me it is the "BESTMEDICINE" because I am laughing very very very hard!
More power! We need opinion like yours to open the minds of our countrymen. We don't need kneejerk reactions which could ruin our country.
Aquino may not be tainted with corruption, not that we know of. However, defending friends and allies who are taking advantage of their posts and stealing public funds makes him an accomplice who should be accountable as well.
Aquino is excessively loyal to his friends because he is excessively dependent on them. He knows nothing.
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