Testing the political waters

Unquestionably the opposition is starting to rest with the almost wholesale dismissal and or suspension of local government officials.

The tension has been aggravated by DILG Secretary R. Puno's warning that the suspended or dismissed officials need not test the administration resolve. But there is something that must be resolved for the satisfaction of all concerned. First, why the last-minute resolution of the preliminary investigations handled by the Ombudsman? Most of these had been pending before the Anti-Graft body for a long time. So, why were they finally decided against the respondents just before the election deadline?

One glaring thing is that the suspended/dismissed local government officials are those identified with the opposition. The perception is that they are crippled from campaigning for the national ticket of the opposition.

That may not be sure, but the thing is that this is the public perception of what is happening. That reinforces the public perception that Puno, who had been tagged as the "dirty tricks" mastermind of past polls, had conveniently been placed as DILG head precisely to do the dirty work again.

It is foolhardy for the local government executive to test the administration's resolve to enforce the Ombudsman's Order. But it should make clear to the people, especially the aggrieved followers of local politicians, that these actions do not represent calculated move aimed at undercutting the opposition vote-delivery.

Like for example, Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, No less than Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez, chair of the Regional Development Council, stressed that the Iloilo governor has been implementing administration projects and programs.

Perez warned of the potential backlash such can trigger for administration local government officials. She cited the case of Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay. The administration later hesitated in fully implanting the Ombudsman order in the case of Mayor Binay who stood pat against the anti-graft body's recommendation forcing ouster.

What makes the situation problematic is that there are very big cases which have been pending before the Ombudsman and yet have to be decided.

Thus, Ombudsman Mercidetas Gutierrez will have difficulty explaining why former Justice secretary Hernani Perez remains with the IMPSA scandal still handling over his head. And the question, how come the case remains unattended to and those of lesser lights speedily acted upon.

Unlike the erratic ideological battle that had been waged by the opposition, this situation is more explosive. Why? Because attachments are concrete and loyalties are tight. A politico may not be very bright, but his followers, in the Philippines tradition, can be very fanatical. Thus, when you have similar tensions prevailing in various areas of the country, there is proximately more danger in that situation.

True, as contended by DILG's Puno, the PNP is ready to help enforce that Ombudsman's Orders. But we also know that not only are the PNP units riddled with partisan followers but also hobbled by the need to observe human rights rules when coping with partisan rallyists. One of the most important signals from the ASEAN Summit was the promise of a better future for the region with accent on biofuel.

This is especially true in the case of the Philippines . For years, we have been trying hard to crack into the bioenergy field. We have been toying with biofuel and bio-ethanol as alternative to fossil fuel. But our way had been stymied by lack of full comprehension by our lawmakers of the potentials of bioenergy.

Lately, however, president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the breakthrough bill. And all the years of preparations have been given the go ahead signal.

The most important development here is that Japan and China promise to be the prospective principal buyers of our excess ethanol and biofuel production

The point now - we must be able to cut down production cost to become competitive in the global market. Otherwise, ASEAN definitely augurs brighter days ahead for all member states, particularly the Philippines.*

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