President Benigno S. Aquino III’s one hour and 40 minutes state of the nation address (SONA) consisting of 55 pages last Monday has elicited various reactions from critics and supporters alike. Supporters lauded the President for a lengthy litany of what he has accomplished on his third year in office like the improved economic standing of the country, reforms in education, labor, tourism, public works. He was also straightforward on corruption and the inability of some government departments and agencies to curve it while critics faulted him for skipping important issues like the freedom of information bill (FOI), a definitive policy on addressing the conflict with China. Except for the inevitable hike in SSS contribution and LRT fare hike there was not much picture on what the people can expect in the fourth year of his term.

It is normal for any SONA to get mixed reactions from the public and different sectors of society. After all nobody, even if he is the President of the country, can please everybody. What caught my attention was that while he openly praised some departments for their good performance he openly rebuked three agencies of government for not measuring to his expected performance like the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and the National Irrigation Administration. He even asked where the employees of the Bureau of Customs got their “kapal ng mukha” for staying on despite their dismal performance. He lashed at the Bureau of Customs for wantonly allowing entry of illegal drugs and firearms to the country instead of collecting the correct taxes. He described NIA’s culture of “pwede na” for their rehabilitation efforts instead of planning for new irrigation projects and not just blame typhoon Pablo for their 60% accomplishment in Mindanao. He was angry at the Bureau of Immigration for allowing Korean fugitive Park Sungjun to slip their guard when this was clearly caught on CCTV and for the escape through the airports of brothers Joel and Mario Reyes, both primary suspects in the murder of Jerry Ortega.

What I cannot understand is how the President could castigate in public the officials of government agencies he considered non-performing but not allow them to resign as in the case of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon. Given the sins or acts of omission enumerated by the President, Biazon who was not at the SONA immediately tendered his resignation. Biazon knew his principle of command responsibility. The Presidents words were a public lashing of the Bureau of Customs which he interpreted as an order for his resignation. But the President assured him that it was not meant for him. In my view President Aquino was sending a wrong signal on his campaign for the “matuwid na daan.” Is he really serious about it? If he did not intend to accept the resignation of Biazon he should not have publicly castigated the agency, unless of course he did not anticipate the personality and character of Biazon as an officer and a gentleman, a man of principle. The President’s close allies could take their cue from his action to the resignation of Biazon – no matter how they perform, the President will not fire them. The most that he could have done if he did not intend to accept the resignation of Biazon was to call all the officials of the Bureau of Customs to the Palace and scold them to his heart’s content and warn them to shape up or heads will roll. That should bring the point of reform that he would like done at the Bureau of Customs. NOTES. Today’s Sandugo activity will be highlighted by the Sandugo Street Dancing. Everyone is invited to see it. There is still the Agri-fair at the Plaza Rizal and the Bohol Product showcase at the Block right at the parking area of ICM.