Roxas should show
“independent- mindedness”
by stepping out of
Pnoy’s shadow…if he wants respect
by Apolinario Villalobos
Anybody can notice the lameness of Roxas as he clutches hard
on the clout of Pnoy. This early, he should show some kind of independent-mindedness
by stepping out of the president’s shadow, as the latter is also perceived,
according to broadsheet editorials, as a
lame duck, himself. Roxas should stop mumbling the nauseating “tuwid na daan”
and “reforms”, the failed keywords in the slogans of Pnoy. In the first place,
the “tuwid na daan” is nowhere to be found and the “reforms” are nothing but
blubs because the security and economy of the country under Pnoy just got
worse. He sounds hollow every time he speaks, and the image he shows is very
pathetic, as if begging for attention. If he wants respect, he must prove that
he can stand on his own feet without leaning on equally uneasy reputation of
the president.
This late, for the last minute preparation for 2016
electoral campaign, Roxas still hopes for an endorsement from his idol, the
president. He is pitifully oblivious to the detached attitude of the president
as regards the endorsement that he has been longing for. In the eyes of the
Filipinos, Roxas’ attitude is a manifestation of weakness. So how can he
command respect, much less, attention from the electorate when he finally goes
out to campaign when he cannot even stand on his own feet? He hopelessly
depends on the endorsement from an equally proven weak person. He is deaf to
the loud declarations from all sectors that an endorsement from the president
could mean a kiss of death.
The Yolanda typhoon episode proved his weakness as a DILG
secretary, although, he tried to be at the scene of disaster together with the “trying
hard” other concerned cabinet secretaries. As expected, after photo
opportunities, each of them went on their own way. He failed to control the
defective flow of relief goods to the affected LGUs. He failed to act on the
overpriced construction of temporary shelters. He failed to conduct immediate
investigation on the blatantly stolen relief goods. He failed to make an accounting
of the cash donations…which donors themselves, later questioned.
Roxas also failed to check on the exceedingly delayed
rehabilitation of the families in Zamboanga City who were affected by the
attack of MNLF…and for more than two years now are languishing in temporary
makeshift shelters without water and toilet facilities. Yet, every time the
president reports on this, what comes out of his mouth are assurances that
everything is under control. As DILG secretary, Roxas should be responsible for
every lies that the president reports on local governments.
His failures can be listed on several pages… concerns of
local government units – his responsibilities, as Secretary of the Department
of Interior and Local Government. He should not pass the buck on to the DSWD
and DPWH, if he is that “concerned”, a word that he shamelessly uses to prop up
his droopy image. As the DILG Secretary, he is supposed to be on top of all the
LGUs, with the rest of the concerned cabinets just providing support.
As if the abovementioned flops are not enough, the utmost
disregard he suffered from the president was when he was left out as plans were
drawn regarding the Mamasapano operations with yet, the suspended PNP Chief,
Allan Purisima. He was expected to resign, because the act of the president was
a grave show of distrust to him. But he swallowed his pride and still served
his idol. Is this a manifestation of a strong and respectable personality? Is
this the kind of a leader that Filipinos want to elect in 2016?...is he deserving
of any position, even as vice-president?...yet, he dolefully dreams to become
president!
With sadness, I could say that the historic magic of the
“Roxas” as a political name may finally find its end in 2016. Such name may
finally be forgotten.
