#AnimatED: Mr President, institutions matter

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

#AnimatED: Mr President, institutions matter
It’s late in the day. But the President has to set things right: acknowledge mistakes and put his official house in order by giving primacy to institutions.

The Mamasapano crisis is the worst to buffet President Aquino. 

It comes at the last stretch of his term, when he is about to bequeath his legacy to a successor: a frontline battle against corruption, a surge in the economy, and an about-to-be concluded peace deal in Mindanao.

It comes at a crucial time as the Liberal Party and the ruling coalition are about to choose a presidential candidate for 2016, faced with a leading contender, Vice President Binay, who is hounded by corruption allegations.  

Before Mamasapano, Aquino loomed as a formidable endorser, with his steady ratings still satisfactory for a president on his 4th year in office. 

And then this: the blood of Mamasapano has spilled into the nation’s politics and marred Aquino’s presidency. (READ: Timeline: Mamasapano clash)

Unfortunately, Aquino belatedly seized the reins of leadership to assure the nation that he would do right by us. 

His style of leadership has shown how personal ties, not institutions, not the official chain of command, have led to inept handling of crises. We have seen how the President’s refusal to go beyond his comfort zone has brought him trouble.

In a way, this Aquino hallmark has allowed Mamasapano to happen. He held on to a police chief suspended by the Ombudsman over charges of corruption. Tight personal bonds proved stronger than public interest.  

“Oplan Exodus” was resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima’s baby. He directed SAF commander Getulio Napeñas to keep the PNP officer in charge out of the loop.

It was only when the crisis was eroding his leadership that Aquino let go of Purisima. 

In 2010, during the bungled hostage crisis, it surfaced that Aquino designated his buddy, Undersecretary Rico Puno, to take charge of the police, leaving Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in the dark. Crossed signals, unclear lines of authority hampered rescue operations.

The President eventually asked Puno to resign—after the damage had been done. 

Moreover, the importance of things personal has impeded Aquino’s leadership.

He was a no-show at the welcome honors for the 44 men of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force who were killed in the line of duty. As the country mourned, the commander-in-chief was at the inauguration of a car plant.

Aquino had instructed the military and police to prepare a grand and dignified welcome for the fallen 44. But why was he not there to give his final salute? He wanted the families to have private time with their loved ones, moments of sorrow shared among themselves the way his family wanted it when his father was killed. This, he told Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr and other officers.

He forgot that he was the leader of a country whose men paid a high price in the war on terror.

It’s late in the day. But the President has to set things right: acknowledge mistakes and put his official house in order by giving primacy to institutions. – Rappler.com 

 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!