Why NEITHER The Late Noynoy Aquino Nor Outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte Transformed The Philippines Into "Another Singapore"

 

I decided to write this one since the ka-epalan antics of Richard "Lucifer" Heydarian and his endorsement of outgoing Vice President Leni Loud Robredo. The elections are almost in and I'm afraid that elections should be held inside casinos instead. The argument below just really makes me wonder if getting a degree in political science is worth it if you're in the Philippines...

I just find "Lucifer" here devilishly devious or plain stupid. Some might say he's not "stupid" because he got his degree from the University of the Philipines-Diliman. Yet, one must also think that Gerry Cacanindin may be from the same school BUT he's a ARROGANT pasaway "thought leader". Sarah Jane Elgago of Kayabangan Partylist is also from UP too. It's sad, really, that the UP is a school of excellence but the honor is lost. Just think that Jose Maria Sison was also once an iskolar ng bayan. The whole UP Mananita last 2020 which had at least hundreds of UP residents infected with COVID-19. One can be highly educated and still have no common sense. Though, I think "Lucifer" here has ulterior motives behind what he does. He does seem to have a devilish smile that suggests that he's always up to no good. Though, he may also have the devilish idiocy of a James Bond villain.  

We need to think back to the Philippines under the late Noynoy Aquino and outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte

It's really something to think about how people want a good leader but refuse a system that will give them a good leader. There are arguments as to why the parliamentary system "won't work" in the Philippines which have already been disproven. The most famous one (before) is that the late Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. made a parliament and it was a failure. However, if one reads the book From Third World to First - one may notice the late Lee Kuan Yew called Cesar Virata a SITTING DUCK. Virata was described to be no leader at all. In short, Lee Kuan Yew was totally aware that Virata was nothing more than a sitting duck. Even the late Ninoy Aquino dared to mention that the parliamentary Marcos set up was a MOCKERY.

We need to take a look at the two leaders whom Noytards and Dutertards look at flawless leaders. Truth is neither leader is perfect. In fact, Duterte even called for national mourning for Noynoy and praised the latter's economic legacy. Back in 2010, it was also Duterte's fault that Noynoy won the presidency in 2010. History also has on record that the late Cory Aquino was launched by PDP-Laban. Ninoy was a co-founder of PDP-Laban along with the late Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Koko Pimentel simply returned to his father's party. Koko even had an ad side by side with Noynoy. Both are sons of the founders of PDP-Laban. Both the Liberal Party and PDP-Laban were, in fact, allies during the martial law years. 

One could name the pros and cons of Noynoy and Duterte. However, one must ask if six years is truly enough to make a difference. Some of Duterte's infrastructure projects are CONTINUATIONS of Noynoy's such as the Second Mactan Airport. Noynoy purchased projects late in his term and they couldn't be built immediately. Just imagine if Noynoy built them late in his term in a hurry. The Second Mactan Airport is one good example. Imagine if Noynoy demanded it to be finished BEFORE his term ends - it wouldn't be operational. Duterte ends up finishing Noynoy's projects BECAUSE they were purchased when the other term was nearing its end. 

Trying to expect Noynoy to be Lee Kuan Yew and Duterte to be Mahathir Mohamad under a presidential system is stupid. In fact, both Lee Kuan Yew and Mohamad are products of the PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM. Lee Kuan Yew's son, Lee Hsien Loong, also ruled in politics while his father at proving political dynasties aren't always a problem unless it's something like Kris Aquino becoming a senator because her brother died. It would also be like Sebastian Duterte also became mayor because of his father, the outgoing president. 

How the parliamentary system would've allowed Daang Matuwid and Change Has Come to REALLY HAPPEN

The parliamentary system isn't just defined by having no fixed term limits. Instead, the parliamentary system defines its terms in terms of performance. The parliamentary system would've worked like this...

Let's just say that Bobong Marcos becomes the prime minister and Leni Loud becomes the opposition leader. They would get this kind of debate diagram inside a REAL PARLIAMENT:

Image by Mark Haughton

It would be interesting that this diagram came out BEFORE the elections. The left side is in red and green which matches the colors of Bobong and Sara Duterte-Carpio. The right side is in pink and blue which matches the colors of Leni Loud and Kikoman Pangilinan. We have the speaker's podium and the judges' table. It would be a grand debate between the two parties - the majority floor by Bobong and the minority floor by LenI Loud. Bobong can't back out of the debates and Leni Loud must come up with alternatives to Bobong's courses of action. The opposition's job is to question the government and provide alternatives.

Imagine if both Noynoy and Duterte were submitted to such direct scrutiny. I think Liela De Lima's case right now wouldn't go on forever. The current investigation against Liela isn't proving her innocence or guilt on the matter. The Yolanda fiasco could've been avoided under a parliamentary system. Noynoy would have to be more careful. Duterte would have to be more careful. Instead, the lack of scrunity allowed certain mistakes during BOTH terms to flourish. However, a parliamentary system would've allowed both of their projects to get scrutinized, get better, and any bad things that happened to be more easily exposed. Corrupt ministers will be exposed and they either resign or be voted out. 

What have 30+ years of having elections actually accomplished? Sure, Cory won the 1986 Snap Election before the EDSA Revolution overthrew a tyrant. Cory refused to re-run for president presumably because she found out it's not as easy as it looks. Fidel V. Ramos wanted to change the constitution but fears of dictatorship loomed again. More and more elections but are the results any better? Besides, a good president comes in but for how long? It's really worth asking those questions because the Philippines has a lot of catching up to do.

A reading of Lee Kuan Yew's legacy will tell you that Singapore didn't become a vicious tiger economy in just six years. The book From Third World to First shows a Singapore that's in worse shape than the Philippines was after Marcos left. Lee Kuan Yew had to lead Singapore beyond six years to turn into the country it is today. The Philippines can only become another Singapore but it must shift to a real parliamentary system first.