WHAT REFORM

Former National Economic Development Authority Director General and now Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri would deliver these lines every time he gets interviewed: “We can’t expect it to come from the military through a junta. The Black and White Movement, the Anak Bayan, and the other non-government organizations wouldn’t be able to do it. The church, with its limited powers, can only do so much. And we can’t imagine it to emanate from the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is through the executive branch, with its vast powers, where we can only hope to start implementing reforms to the government. Of course, the whole country should all cooperate.” The jerk, by saying that, thinks we, the people would excuse him for not resigning from his position in GMA’s cabinet and going to the senate to share what he knows about the stink in Gloria’s government, more especially the NBN-ZTE scandal.

So maybe he’s right. Maybe the executive branch is the best avenue where reform can be launched. But what now if it’s the members of the executive branch themselves who keep flouting every law? And how should we deal with a leader who has ‘lost all moral authority over the entire nation?’ (According to Mr. Lozada, Mr. Neri said, “GMA has lost all moral authority over me.”) Shouldn’t we drive away that leader first so we can start the reforms with a clean slate? Shouldn’t GMA be kicked out first from the office which she holds through deceit? Maybe if GMA is ousted, the reform which Neri keeps harping about can be started. (Neri holds a very important role towards that end. Most of Lozada’s testimonies at the senate depend on Neri’s corroboration.)

(What’s wrong with them? Monsod, Neri, Salceda…

I used to watch the now off-air GMA7 show Debate With Mare At Pare which was hosted by Oscar Orbos and Winnie Monsod. During the height of the ‘Hello Garci controversy, Albay governor Joey Salceda who was once a part of GMA’s economic planning team would be one of the show’s regular guests. He, along with Prospero Pichay, Michael Defensor, and the other GMA dogs would usually form the panel which defends GMA and her programs. There were instances when Mr. Salceda would almost admit that, indeed, cheating took place during the 2004 presidential elections. But he would go on to say that like King so and so (:-)) of the Bible whom God punished for committing sinful acts but who then repented and proceeded to become one of God’s people’s best rulers, couldn’t the Filipino citizens allow GMA to be just like that biblical king? After all, the economic indicators are all on the up and up? (Of course, Gloria was once her economics teacher.)

Well, Neri didn’t bite the 200 million peso bribe from Abalos but it can’t be moral uprightness. He shouldn’t be working for GMA if he knew anything about morals.

Economists… Lord, deliver us from them.)