SONA silent on rights, loud on threats — critics

LIKE in the past, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s seventh state of the nation address (SONA) was met with applause at almost every pause. Again, she came armed with a Powerpoint presentation complete with “props” — people she presented and praised for their achievements, meriting more applause from the crowd. Outside of the Batasang Pambansa complex, throngs of soldiers and policemen were everywhere, giving the occasion the feel of a state of siege.

In her 13-page speech, Mrs. Arroyo outlined the public-works projects her administration has already delivered, and the billion-peso road, airport and agricultural projects she has lined up for the future. At every turn, she acknowledged her supporters whose district, province or town will benefit from the infrastructures, the bulk of which will be in Mindanao.

“To me, the speech was like ‘the state of infrastructure report,” says Rep. Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna. He said the speech was three-fourths about infrastructure, but had nothing about concrete plans to address poverty and joblessness.

Senator Francisco Escudero labeled the SONA as “a first-world lesson in geography and the Department of Public Works and Highways.”

“As a literary exposition, it was good, but it contained nothing new,” he said. He also challenged the president to lead the way by doing more and lessening the politicking in her administration’s policies.

“It’s not bad to dream, but the SONA had nothing specific on how to achieve these dreams,” commented reinstalled Senate President Manuel Villar.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila admits the president’s promises places “extremely high expectations” on the government’s tax collection agencies. But he says it should be seen as challenges that should be met. He also brushes aside reports that the government may not have enough funds to support the infrastructure projects the president included in her SONA.

Rep. Satur Ocampo also of the party-list Bayan Muna lamented the SONA’s “silence” on the recommendations for the executive that were firmed up during the two-day summit on extra-judicial killings initiated by the Supreme Court. “It had nothing on the peace process and the command responsibility doctrine,” said Ocampo.

Senator Edgardo Angara, who ran under the administration banner, echoed Ocampo’s sentiment. He says the SONA fell short on “details on legislations required to address political killings in the country.”

In her speech, the president did ask the two chambers of Congress for four legislations related to human rights: the protection of witnesses, the creation of special courts that will handle human rights cases, the imposition of harsher penalties for political killings, and the harshest penalties for men in uniform who commit abuses.

While the criticisms are par for the course, what raised eyebrows was Arroyo’s new approach to ending her SONA: “Ang inyong lingkod, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas.” To some opposition lawmakers, the closing line of the speech had the self-destructing effect of evoking memories of the “Hello, Garci” scandal which rocked the administration in 2005.

Perhaps it was an “answer to the continuing questions about the legitimacy of the president’s reign as president,” says Ocampo.

“It was unnecessary and defensive,” says Villar.

“It may have been addressed to her rivals,” says Casiño.

“She probably just wanted to remind people who’s in charge,” says Angara.

Favila claims authorship of the line. He says he asked that it be included in the president’s speech last week, as “an assertion of leadership.” He refused to elaborate on why the assertion was necessary.

In her speech, the president also warned those who have presidential ambitions in 2010 and who may get “in the way of the national interest and (try) to block the national vision.”

“From where I sit, I can tell you, a president is always as strong as she wants to be,” she said.

This did not sit well with some lawmakers. Some saw it as a “threat” to those who will question the president’s actions. To Ocampo, the statement was superfluous: “The Constitution already defines her power.”

“She has proven the power of the presidency during the Oakwood mutiny and the coup in 2006,” says Angara, recalling the time when the president issued several edicts that, although questioned by various groups, were able to prolong her stay in power.

Villar says the president may have just wanted to issue a blanket warning to politicians who oppose her government. “It’s risky. This may lead to abuse,” says Villar.