Never did he imagine that we would be a collateral damage in President Aquino’s rabid pursuit to make Gloria Arroyo accountable for her crimes against the Filipino people.
As a commissioner in the Commission on Election, never did it cross Lagman’s mind that he would be a factor in the impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, which is related to Aquino’s crusade against Arroyo.
Last week, Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang announced that the President would not issue an ad-interim appointment for Lagman, who has not been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, chaired by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile because they have been informed by CA members that “ it will be difficult, if not impossible, to confirm him.”
Carandang denied that the decision not to re-appoint Lagman in the Comelec had anything to do with the Corona impeachment, being presided by Enrile.
Of course, no one believes, that it had nothing to do with the Corona impeachment. The choice was between Lagman and Enrile.
Enrile wants Lagman’s head for allegedly shaving two million of his votes and that of other senatorial candidates of the Grand Allliance for Democracy, the opposition party, in the 1987 elections in favor of the candidates of President Cory Aquino’s party.
Lagman then was as the one in charge of the automated parallel count of the National Movement for Free Elections.
Lagman found Enrile’s accusations preposterous because the official count was done by Comelec headed then by Christian Monsod and had members known for their integrity like Haydee Yorac.
Lagman, in his letter to friends, said, “Malacanang explained to me that they thought it best not to renew my appointment in order to save me from having to go through the ordeal of a confirmation hearing where I could be rejected.
“ I truly appreciate their concern and, initially, I also thought that that would be best. However, after thinking about it the last few days, I am now convinced that I would much prefer to be given my day in court, i.e., go through the confirmation process despite the risk of a rejection. “
No way. Malacañang won’t dare antagonize Enrile, whose vote in the Corona impeachment is crucial.
Malacañang needs 16 votes to convict Corona, who needs eight votes to block his conviction. Now, Malacañang can be assured of eight votes from Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Panfilo Lacson,Sergio Osmeña III, Teofisto Guingona, III, Antonio Trillanes IV and Edgardo Angara.
If they get Enrile, it is expected that they would also get the votes of those known to be close to the Senate President: Gregorio Honasan, Jinggoy Estrada, and Tito Sotto.
The only vote that Corona is assured of is by Joker Arroyo.
The votes of the rest:Manny Villar, Pia Cayetano, Alan Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr and Lito Lapid xould go either way. It will require Malacañang’s tremenduous persuasive powers to get them to their side to get the 16 votes.
It is clear, therefore, that Malacañang cannot afford to lose Enrile.
The Movement for Good Governance, a civil society group that supported Aquino, headed by former Economic Planning Secretary Solita Collas-Monsod and former Finance Undersecretary Milwida M. Guevara wrote the President asking that he reconsider Lagman’s Comelec appointment.
They said: “Gus has served our country well. He should be allowed to defend himself publicly from any accusation on his integrity and competence and the President should be the first to uphold that right by reappointing him and sending out the message to his allies in the Congress that they better have valid grounds to reject him.”
They reminded him of his “Tuwid na Daan” mantra: “Does not “daan na matuwid” also mean that those who are willing to serve the government and have the integrity and competence to do so should be protected from the dirt of politics or the whims of politicians that cannot stand critical public scrutiny? Instead, Gus was unceremoniously set aside even if he was willing to be subjected to the harshest of possible treatment by the Commission of Appointments because he was confident that he could answer the accusations before the public.
“Are not people like him worthy of presidential support? Isn’t this a good opportunity to test the efficacy of the system of confirmation which is supposed not only to safeguard the public interest from unworthy nominees but is also designed to lay bare for the public to see whenever the process is used for self-aggrandizement and political blackmail?”
Don’t these civil society people know that “Tuwid na Daan” has been set aside? That will again be bannered when the President delivers his next State of the Nation Address.
Right now, it’s realpolitik.
Reality is Enrile knows how to play his card. Also, Corona is not fit to be CJ because of the manner he became one plus the SALN and $ account issue. Lagman may have serve the country well, but are we obligated to give him what is due to him o baka naman pede na mag bigay na muna siya for the greater good? anyway, he said he want to serve the people? The judiciary to include the SC is the problem in this country. The many delays and mis interpretations of our laws made many corrupt politicians survived all these years. I’ll rather let the government do what it thinks is best so long as they do not copy goyang and later hopefully when pieces are in place, apply the principle like what this article/blog imply for better governance.
There are times that a sacrifice must be made for a greater good. And ifto lose Lagman as a commissioner and gain the removal of an unfit CJ and herald the start of a new better society, that sacrifice was well worth. The option at this time is very limited.
the moral of the lesson is , those in private sector, think a hundred times before agreeing to serve a public position, for in the end, nobody will think of your honor, dignity except yourself
bakit? sa Comelec lang ba niya mapapatunayang tapat ang kanyang nais na makapaglingkod sa bayan? sa alinmang sangay ng gobyerno lamang ba maipapakita o magagawa ang pagsisilbi sa bayan?
meron bang umamin sa mga nakapuwesto sa matataas na posisyon na ang malaking halagang tinatanggap nila ang MAS una nilang pinupuntirya kesa serbisyo publiko?
kung kaya nilang gaguhin ang sarili nila, sila na lang!
The only vote that Corona is assured of is by Joker Arroyo.
For sure, Miriam Santiago is for Corona!
The best way for Gus Lagman to serve the Filipino people is by not serving them at all.
Thank you, Gus. Next.
I hate it. Losing the services of a man like Lagman.
But serving in government as a political appointee is a risk. The Presidentis at times is forced to play the game like a chess player. You sacrifice a piece to get the queen.
I hate it and am sure all Presidents do too, when he sends soldiers out to fight the enemy and they come home in body bags. But that too is part of reality of serving in government.
We are all pawns in the chess game of life.
#6 exactly!
Statement of the Automated Election Watch:
The non-reappointment of Augusto “Gus” Lagman as IT Commissioner in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is the final act that buried efforts in the search for an accurate, secure, and credible automated election system before the 2013 polls.
The Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch or “eyes watch”), a broad multi-sector citizens’ election watchdog, thus said today in reaction to the non-reappointment of Lagman by President Benigno S. Aquino III in the Comelec. Reports said the President’s move was meant to save Lagman from a grueling session with the Commission on Appointments (CA) resulting in his non-confirmation. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who heads the CA, had been very vocal in public and aside during hearings of the Senate electoral committee that the sole IT commissioner won’t be confirmed.
“With Lagman’s non-reappointment, the message is very clear – those who question the internal deficiencies and systems that were found in the 2010 poll automation have no place inside Comelec or they should just be dismissed,” AES Watch said.
ang gobyerno kasi ay katulad ng isang kuta na pinamumugaran ng mga pusakal na magnanakaw na walang pagtitiwala kahit katiting sa kapuwa nila magnanakaw.
sipsipan. saksakan sa likod. matira ang mas makapal!
‘yan ay patungkol sa mga opisyales nating kahit isinusuka na ng taong bayan ay parang mga dapo sa ipinulupot na ang katawan sa puno upang hindi mabaklas at habang meron pang katas na masisipsip ay hindi gustong bibitaw!
……parang mga dapong ipinulupot ang katawan sa puno…….”
Marami naman tayong IT experts diyan na walang bahid. Kung nandito pa yan sa Pilipinas, dalawang bagay lang yan: Makabayan o Ambisyosong dito nakaplano ang negosyo. Kung alinman sa dalawang yan ang dahilan, hindi mahirap kumuha ng kapalit ni Lagman sa Private Sector para maglingkod sa Comelec.
Hindi kailangang abugado pa rin. Yan ang hirap nung nakaraan, puro abugado, ayun pinaikutan lang ng Smartmatic. Kaya hindi matahimik hanggang ngayon yung espiritu ni Ninez Olivarez, heheh. At si MAR ROXAS!!! Effectively, the 2007 elections were subcontracted by Comelec. If they develop the skills from within, side-by-side with the appointment of more technically-inclined commissioners, then people will be complaining (or doubting) less. Gaya ni Ninez o maging si xman dito.
Yung mga propesor lang ng ComSci/IT sa UP o Ateneo marami silang mapipili roon.