No puppet SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 05/28/2010

No puppet

SILVER LINING Dean Ernest Maceda 05/28/2010 One of the luxuries afforded by President Erap’s record setting 1998 presidential triumph was the carte blanche given him to fill in the thousands of vacancies in government. Because of his facile victory, virtually no strings were left attached to those who “helped” out. Erap was no puppet. Accordingly, he succeeded in assembling a Cabinet and official family of his confidence composed of outstanding public servants with a base so diverse as to include all points on the political spectrum — without regard to the roles they had played to get him elected. Even his search committee was formidable with no less than Prime Minister Cesar Virata agreeing to be part. Mrs. Arroyo had no such luck. No mandate, no legitimacy. Hence, she was beholden to interest groups and severely limited in her choices. Did anyone fail to see how strings manipulated her with respect to Cabinet members she was saddled with as a trade-off for 2001? Speaking of trade-offs, her record in appointing military officials to the bureaucracy is unmatched in the annals of the presidency. She was fortunate to have such stalwarts as Gibo Teodoro, Ace Durano, Gary Teves and Espie Cabral agree to serve with her. Other best and brightest simply declined the call. Should Senator Noynoy emerge winner after the dust — now transferred to the congressional canvass — settles, he will have the same freedom enjoyed by Erap in staffing his administration with people who are tapat and may Galing at Talino. Observers are restive on the personalities that Senator Aquino might bring along with him to Malacañang. Because of his apparent popular win, he is generally expected to come up with the cleanest and most competent complement he can find. Like Erap, there will hardly be strings left attached to Noynoy that could be used to control his movements like a marionette.... MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100528com6.html

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