Manila: President Benigno Aquino has ‘unmitigated weaknesses’ that emerged during his five years in office, critics said yesterday. They alleged the following:
1. Aquino is corrupt while he claims to fight corruption
“He fatally damaged his campaign for taking the straight road by his [own] corrupt way – pressure and bribery for the passage of a bill that allows government to subsidise poor people’s family planning with the use of condoms, and the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona in Congress in 2012,” alleged retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
The Disbursement Accelerated Programme Aquino created was found unlawful. The Supreme Court said the transfer of funds from executive to the legislative was illegal.
2. Aquino supports selective justice
“Big-name politicians were charged and arrested for misuse of development funds. But those identified with his administration remained free,” said Bishop Efraim Tendero. Only three opposition senators were imprisoned for the alleged crime, but a whistle-blower said 80 per cent of lawmakers were involved in it.
3. Aquino has contributed to poverty
“Poor people suffer due to low wages, higher cost of living, and unemployment,” said Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel in the south.
4. Aquino has exacerbated crisis in education
“Tuition rates increased by 108 per cent at the national level, and by 143 per cent at the National Capital Region. About 1.5 million Filipino youth are out of school, one of the highest figures in the world,” said Congressman Terry Ridon.
5. Aquino is responsible for crisis in labour
About 4.7 million Filipinos are unemployed, 47.3 per cent are aged 15 to 24, and 31.6 per cent are aged 25 to 34, a survey said. “As a result, the government continues its policy of exporting labour, and allows companies to employ contractual labour,” Congressman Ridon said.
6. Aquino is failing to push Congress to pass a peace law
This is necessary to implement the 2014 pro-autonomy peace settlement between the Philippine government and the 38-year old Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
7. Aquino is reluctant to choose the ruling party’s presidential candidate. “This could weaken the party and the chances of its candidates,” said political analyst Prospero de Vera.