The first day of Aquino’s last year in Malacañang

Today, June 30, 2015, is the first day of the final year of President Benigno Aquino III and his loyal men in Malacañang. This day next year would be the inauguration of the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a 3 am public post on Facebook – I estimated based on the timestamp – reminded us of this.

“366 days to go! The first day of our last year in office,” he posted.

We’ve heard this story from Cabinet members since the early years of the Aquino administration: the President has always been counting the days to June 30, 2016, when he will step down from Malacañang.

We all remember how the death of his mother – the late democracy icon Corazon Aquino – catapulted the then neophyte senator to the presidential race. The rest is history.

One government official once joked that Aquino has a watch that shows him the exact number of days to his “freedom.”

This is why a lot of political observers couldn’t believe it when Aquino was suddenly open to amending the Constitution to give a chance at re-election. (READ: Not even Cory’s son can resist the lure of cha-cha)

Let’s join the administration down memory lane. 

We read again Aquino’s inaugural speech 5 years ago, where he declared his famous lines: “Kayo ang boss ko.”

It was in that speech that Aquino gave Justice Secretary Leila De Lima the marching orders to run after those who “abused the public.”

While the commission that was supposed to investigate the alleged corruption and election cheating committed by the Arroyo administration was declared unconstitutional, former President Gloria Arroyo and 3 senators are now detained for various corruption cases.

For two of the senators– Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr – the cases meant the end of their 2016 plans. 

At the tailend of this administration, political pundits are speculating on possible cases that Aquino may also face when he steps down because of the controversial Disbursement Accelleration Program, which was declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Who remembers the government’s first executive order that got critics calling this administration a “student body” for its rookie mistakes. We’re reminded what a long time it has been.

Aquino has 366 days remaining in Malacañang. But his party mates definitely want to stay. The ruling Liberal Party is dreaming of staying in power for at least 12 more years, installing in the Palace two more presidents.

As Lacierda responded to a commenter: “It is all up to us to decide if we want good governance or Daang Matuwid to continue beyond 2016 and if so, then let us choose the right person to continue the reforms of PNoy.” – Rappler.com