State of paranoia

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Just like the eight that went before it, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 9th State of the Nation Address listed many of the gains and achievements made under the administration of the second longest-serving president in the history of this country.  For all those positive accomplishments that were made under the stewardship of a widely unpopular president, whose saving grace is her work ethic, credit should be given where it is due and her countrymen should be grateful.

However, just like the SONAs that went before, the people of this country were also hoping to hear more than just a list of the sugarcoated achievements of their president. Some wanted to know what she was going to do about the rampant corruption that her regime has been associated with.  Others wanted to when this government was ever going to address the problem of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations, more than the usual lip service.  All of the scandals and controversies that have hounded this presidency could have been put to rest if they had been addressed in the numerous SONAs of the past but, for some reason, those pressing issues were avoided and they remain unresolved, left to eat away at whatever remains of her legacy as a President of the country.

The two questions that dominated this year’s SONA were whether President GMA would finally put to rest all the speculations regarding her plans for after 2010 by categorically stating that she would step down and allow the peaceful transfer of power to her legally elected successor, and if the administration-controlled House of Representatives would exploit the SONA to convene a constituent assembly and attempt to mangle the fundamental law of the land. 

Many were relieved when the SONA ended without any surprises being sprung by the crafty Congressmen allied with the administration. However, Gloria Macapacal Arroyo’s refusal to answer the question regarding her political plans has left the people of this country wondering, apprehensive, and paranoid when it comes to the future of the nation after 2010.

Until PGMA makes it clear what her plans really are, that state of paranoia will be the state of the nation.*