Transactional leadership

SO this is what that historic and glorious, to borrow Malacañang’s triumphalist description of the impeachment vote, really was – transactional. No, we are not only talking of the scuttlebutt about the alleged but largely unproven QPQs (quid pro quos) between detained President Estrada, the Marcoses and their congressional allies, on the one hand, and President Arroyo, on the other, which have sent a thousand tongues a-wagging. We would much rather focus on the proven, documented and, yes, brazenly undertaken ones featuring, among others, the Magsaysays, Zambales Rep. Antonio Magsaysay-Diaz and his nephew, AVE Partylist Rep. Eulogio "Amang" Magsaysay, whose QPQs, as it were, the PCIJ and Senator Richard Gordon have already verified and the last-minute withdrawal of the appointment of Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin as Southcom chief which is now turning out to be part of a QPQ arrangement with the so-called "Garci Generals" and their backers, in and out of the AFP.

Too, the same should now also be applied to the misuse of the Departments of Agriculture, Public Works and Highways and Agrarian Reform, to name the more prominent agencies, all over again as conduits or laundry machines for the release of Malacañang’s reported "goodwill" bonanzas to favored congressmen on the eve of the crucial impeachment vote. These discoveries are not only disgusting and condemnable. They also serve to reinforce the one charge of the Hyatt 10 against PGMA that really carried a lot of bite which is that since the "Gloriagate" expose more than three months ago the Chief Executive was no longer governing in accordance with her oath but has been misusing all the resources and powers of the presidency just to hang on to power.

Once fully documented, these offenses can also buttress the effort of some congressmen to have the killed impeachment complaint recommitted to the Committee on Justice for full hearing on the merits. I am made to understand that there are a number of solid legal and definitely ethical grounds upon which such an initiative can be founded. Or, if such a move fails to prosper at all, to be aired in the proposed "People’s Tribunal" or in the various forums being organized by the broad anti-PGMA coalition. Indeed, there is need to highlight yet again the reality of this administration’s governance since it took over more than four years ago. That way, our people will be better informed and, hopefully, better conditioned to finally make that fateful decision whether to keep these guys in power a minute longer than necessary or boot them out altogether.

As reported by the PCIJ’s Yvonne Chua, the Magsaysays got a total of P25 million from Malacañang and its allies under questionable circumstances on the eve of the impeachment vote. "Amang" was supposed to have gotten a P5 million check from Speaker Joe de Venecia’s wife, Gina, which was reportedly deposited in his account at the Bank of Commerce, Eisenhower-San Juan branch. Mrs. De Venecia has since denied this as a canard but not after one of her husband’s senior aides sneeringly told reporters that they should be more "circumspect and decent" and, more importantly, should advise the critics to "accept defeat gracefully". That was a non-sequitur, of course, from guys who should be the last to lecture the public about circumspection and decency. These have become so hide bound after four years of almost daily practice in the art of lying without really trying, On the other hand, Congressman Tony Diaz reportedly got P20 million in three tranches from the President’s Social Fund (PSF) all issued through the Department of Education for the "A.M Diaz-PGMA scholarship fund."

To make matters worse, Senator Gordon has come out swinging against the alleged pressure emanating from the Magsaysay camp for the revocation of the executive order imposing a hefty P500,000 duty for every second hand car being imported through SBMA. Again, the Magsaysays have denied they were exerting any kind of pressure on the Chief Executive but like all other presidential initiatives which are now being exposed these smack of out and out transactions done beyond the pale of the law and generally acceptable practices.

To be fair, the Magsaysays can always claim that they never asked anything from President Arroyo and that any such "gifts", if any, were purely on Malacañang’s initiative. And since these monies will be used for poor but deserving students anyway why should people begrudge them. Well, they should tell that story to their fellows in Congress many of whom are still struggling to have their allocated "pork barrel" released as well as the rank-and-file of the agencies they used as laundry machines and be ready for the expected backlash, tongue lashing and maybe even a punch or two if they don’t watch out. That is how crude and sickening these cavalier transactions have come to be known and increasingly challenged that it will be near-impossible for Malacañang and its allies to hide their grisly misdeeds.

But what takes the cake in terms of brazenness and irregularity among these initially reported transactional initiatives was the withdrawal of General Bagasin’s appointment as Soutcom chief. t As early as three weeks ago right after General Generoso Senga took over as AFP chief it was widely known that Bagasin (PMA Class ‘73), a well rounded combat officer and the most senior among the two star generals, was already it. Contrary to all the disinformation now being floated around, Bagasin the one and only choice of the Board of Generals (BOG), was promptly endorsed by DND chief Avelino Cruz Jr. and was already as good as appointed by Malacañang. As a matter of fact, he was already asked by his superiors to prepare for the turn over as evidenced even by the speech prepared by the outgoing chief, Lt. Gen. Boysie Braganza

That is how crude and sickening these cavalier transactions have come to be known and increasingly challenged that it will be near-impossible for Malacañang and its allies to hide their grisly misdeeds.’  

By J.A. Dela Cruz, Malaya online