Aquino insensitive till the end

Not much has been heard from outgoing President Noynoy Aquino these past few days. Most of the attention of the media has been focused on the incoming Chief Executive – on his person and his pronouncements. To a large extent, the public has opted to give back to the daily grind of life and simply wait for Aquino to pack up and go. 

The only significant words heard from the outgoing President were these – that he is leaving office with his head held high, and that he would be watching Mayor Rody Duterte’s stint at the Palace.

Both statements have baffled people and have led many to ask whether or not the outgoing President had opted to stick to his trademark insensitivity to the very last.

What did Aquino mean exactly when he said he would be watching Duterte? Did he mean he intends to be a critic of Duterte? Did he mean he would be on the look out for the slips, gaps and mistakes that the next administration would commit?

Was that a veiled threat against Duterte?

Was Aquino entertaining the fantasy that he has some of his mother’s popular appeal that could enable him to mobilize “people power” if and when Duterte’s administration works adversely against his interest and that of his wealthy clan?

Did Aquino mean he would lie and patiently wait for Duterte to make crucial mistakes so he could then heckle or, at worst, get discontented elements in the Armed Forces and the police to mount attempts at unseating Duterte?

Was he subtly reminding Duterte that there could really be such a thing as “Plan B” for which reason the election of vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo is being ensured “at all cost,” as some would say?

We hope that what the outgoing President really meant was that he intends to watch Duterte’s presidency to find out what decisiveness and true leadership means.

We suggest Aquino ignore the whispers of the very cabal that failed to get the Palace bet, Mar Roxas, to win the elections. A critic’s role may not fit Aquino. We are concerned that when he starts firing away at the Duterte administration, he may look more like a kibitzer than a critic.

It may be better for the outgoing President to take a long-needed rest, leave the country alone to solve its problems under a new leadership, and to prepare for the possibility of legal battles that may arise once he is out of office and out of power.

Now, what about that statement that he is set to leave office “with his head held high?”

That expression, we believe, means that one is proud of his achievements and that he has no regrets whatsoever.

He has a point there. There may be gains under his watch that, as we said, may have been the result of the actions taken during previous administrations.

However, there are failures and outright blunders that exacted a heavy toll on Filipinos – and which a decent and sensitive leader cannot deny?

What about the death of the SAF 44? Nothing to be ashamed of, Mr. Outgoing?

What about the daily agony of thousands who depend on light rail transportation?

What about the mess at the airports highlighted by the many “tanim-bala” incidents that his minions failed to address?

What about the failure to check the bullying of the country and our fishermen by China in the West Philippine Sea?

Could President Aquino look at these Filipinos straight in the eye and tell them he is leaving them with his head held high?

Wasn’t much of this pain suffered by the people caused by the very personalities appointed by Aquino and whom he failed to sack even when they had obviously bungled their mission?

On second thought, it may be good for him to leave “with his head held high.”

By doing so, he would not see the angry faces of those who suffered much under his watch and whose pain he continues to deny and ignore.

After all, what right have the people to complain against Cory’s son? Didn’t he do us one big favor by allowing us to make him President?

To demand that he understand and acknowledge the pain he had caused us may be asking too much from him.