Liberalizing LGUs

NO DAANG matuwid, all politics as usual, read: What are we in power for?

That is the installation of Liberal Party president Mar Roxas as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government succeeding the publicly beatified Jesse Robredo.

"I have big shoes, big tsinelas, to fill." For once, Roxas was right. He certainly cannot even hope to measure up to Robredo. At best, he can only be good at holding Robredo's sandals. 

Robredo was as much known for being a loyal Liberal partyman as for being non-partisan in the dispensation of his duties as DILG headman. Look how the partisan divide closed in mourning over his passing.

Why, Robredo was even more than willing to dance and sleep with the enemy anytime, so to speak, as evidenced by his many working visits, not the least of which were the bestowing of the Seal of Good Housekeeping rewards, to  Pampanga, bastion of the perceived archfiend to PNoy.

What Robredo had a surfeit of, Roxas is seen as bereft of.

Why, Roxas' high partisanship transcends political partylines and cuts at the very pit of Malacanang, as exampled by his Balay gang engaging the Samar group in pitched battle for every senior position at stake.

So what can the nation expect of the DILG under the thumb of Roxas?

The "Liberalization" of the local government units, is no far-fetched idea. Which augurs well, as if you didn't know, for the LP agenda for 2013: a sweep of the Senate, a solid majority in the House, therewith laying the solidest stage for Roxas' presidential take-off in 2016.

Swell.   

“The President gave me a free mandate to choose my team." So Roxas told media. "I would expect that lahat ng mga co-terminus (positions) would be vacated by the time na pumasok tayo."

A carte blanche there.    

"Lahat ng mga co-terminus." No one spared. Not even presidential shooting buddy Rico Puno, who as DILG undersecretary was given by the President control of the Philippine National Police, instead of Robredo.

A fact that showed Aquino's lack of confidence in Robredo as DILG chief. A fact that gave the lie to the President's public display of faith in and affection to the dead Robredo.

With the PNP, Roxas wields the big stick, not only in crime prevention or solution but also in enforcing that the LGUs toe the partyline. The assignment of police chiefs make a most compelling reason for the local chief executives to be on the good side of the DILG secretary. Life and death of LGU intelligence -- in police parlance, that is -- hangs right there.

Still remember Usec Puno in the early days of the Aquino administration drawing flak from all sectors when he confirmed in public that he had received feelers from emissaries of illegal gambling operators?

That's the intelligence the police have been known for. Intelligence (im)properly applied could sustain patronage, fund political campaigns, even buy elections.    

Aye, both carrot and stick, so to speak, political and police powers reside in Roxas at the DILG. Which makes him a most powerful man in government, second only to the President. Mayhaps, even at par with the President given the "free mandate" he handed to Roxas .

So what can the nation expect of Roxas at the DILG?

Expectations are the root of all frustrations.

Better not to expect anything. Pray for a miracle instead.

Roxas did not fare well being Mr. Palengke at the Department of Trade. Miserably failing to arrest the soaring prices of basic commodities.

Roxas, as Transportation and Communications Secretary was totally clueless in finding solution to the air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, stupidly proposing that airlines had to be forced to cut their flights by 30 percent in total negation of the efforts of the Department of Tourism to increase tourist arrivals to 10 million in two years.

Poised to take over his latest assignment, Roxas vowed: “On jueteng, on drugs, on kidnapping, illegal logging, malinaw na malinaw naman ang posisyon ng Pangulo dito sa krimen na ito. At gagampanan ko ang aking tugkulin para matigil at mahuli lahat itong mga gumagawa ng masama na ito.”    

So, are the proverbial marines still listening?