The usual divide and rule path
EDITORIAL |
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The divide and rule tack of Noynoy’s yellow appointees at the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is working perfectly, which may be enough to destroy the global reputation of the bank.
The DBP is the government’s premier commercial bank which, along with the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank), that in turn was created to supposedly serve the vast agricultural sector, was designed as tools for the country’s development.
Lately, however, the only development that has been seen at DBP is infighting among its officials and a bitter feud among Noynoy’s appointees and the past leadership of the bank.
The conflict within the DBP is a microcosm of the many conflicts within the fractious Noynoy administration.
The public, for instance, is now used to hearing about the Balay and the Samar factions’ internal struggle in Malacañang and the almost public display of one faction pathetically trying to outdo the other.
There were also several instances when Noynoy’s yellow people tried to impose their will on the agencies that they colonize.
At the DBP, the yellow appointees backed by the minions of Noynoy’s cronies are supposedly on a crusade to cleanse the state bank of its crooked past.
On the cross hair of the yellow appointees are the former DBP officials and businessman Roberto Ongpin who has long been suspected by the yellows and the new administration officials to be a chief crony of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.
Employees were not asked but ordered to turn in what they knew about past irregular dealings and when the evidence is considered insufficient, it does not matter that these are manufactured to suit their whims.
The turf battle at DBP has reached international notice, with credit watchdog Standard and Poors issuing a subtle warning about a possible downgrade of DBP’s credit grade that would make it more expensive, if not difficult, for the bank to borrow abroad or the value of guarantees that the bank gives on loans to private companies degraded.
The derating on the bank, it being an integral part of government, may also reflect on the overall credit grade of the country.
The conflict at DBP only goes to show the shortsighted character of Noynoy and the people around him in running the government or its different arms.
Noynoy similarly has the penchant of deciding based on immediate needs while not seeing the future implications of his decisions. A clear proof of this, was his donating $1 million to the Japanese victims of the earthquake that happened way back in March.
The day after the donation, while he was still in Japan, typhoon “Pedring” struck, devastating most of Luzon, including Metro Manila.
Those left in the country found out to their dismay that only P3 million was left in the calamity fund to be spent which would not last for long for the many victims of the devastation caused by the typhoon.
The DBP situation would not have been blown out of proportion had the appointees of Noynoy shed their cloak of conceit and sought cooperation from employees of the bank instead of threatening them.
As it turned out, the appointees of Noynoy are being resisted by those who they are supposed to work with in improving the performance of the state bank.
Consider that the first order of business of Noynoy’s appointees was to dig up alleged irregular loans transacted with the bank instead of attending to the many requests from troubled business sectors for government assistance.
A serious reform at all levels of government is indeed expected from the administration of Noynoy but not through an abrasive mob-like manner that the yellow crowd surrounding to which Noynoy is accustomed.
Now, trouble at the DBP is near tipping point with the employees up to the managerial level appears to be closing ranks against the appointees of Noynoy.
The resolution of the conflict in the state bank would require either most of the employees being terminated or the appointees of Noynoy being sent packing out of DBP.
The latter is more ideal but would likely not happen with Noynoy’s help.
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110930com6.html