THE song of Tony Orlando and the Dawns once again kept playing in my mind upon reading about President Benigno Aquino III’s call for Filipinos to wear yellow ribbon to show their support for his administration’s protest against the Supreme Courts’ decision, ruling that PNoy’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is unconstitutional.
As quoted by ABS-CBN News, Aquino said in his televised speech last Monday: “Nagulat nga po kami nang makita naming hindi naisa-alang-alang sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema ang ginamit naming batayan ng DAP. Hindi tayo lumabag sa batas nang ipatupad natin ang DAP. May mga naririnig din akong bulong-bulungan na baka pinepersonal lang daw ako sa isyung ito na para bang hinahamon akong personalin din sila.”
When PNoy’s approval rating plummeted as a result of this controversy, Aquino announced: “We’ll come up with, perhaps, a manifestation of the support—if I still have the support of our people—and concrete examples of these. Perhaps wearing our yellow ribbons, amongst other things, just to demonstrate exactly in a quick manner where the sentiments of our people lie. But we will be posting a more detailed list of requests to our bosses in the coming days.”
Of course we recall how such call for people to wear yellow ribbons or any yellow outfit had been used during the time of the People Power movement in 1986 to oust the Marcos dictatorship. It also had been used to commemorate the solemn spirit of unity among the Filipino people during the EDSA Revolution anniversary.
The yellow ribbon was also worn by kababayans in mourning when Former President Cory Aquino died, and during the campaign of her son Noynoy Aquino, which helped catapult him to Presidency.
Now that Noynoy Aquino is facing the biggest challenge to his presidency, he is asking the Filipino people to wear the yellow ribbon again.
Yes, like PNoy, many kababayans, are frustrated and angry about the red tape in the bureaucracy, how taxpayers’ money has not been used expeditiously and efficiently to deliver basic services, build much needed infrastructure and assist in the recovery and rehabilitation programs during natural disasters. Yes, like PNoy, many Filipinos question if the so called “savings” are being exploited by some government agencies for their personal and/or political gain.
And yes, with PNoy’s speech, there are some who may not necessarily be die-hard Noynoy supporters, but now wonder if the Supreme Court justices considered the spirit of the law in making the ruling against DAP’s constitutionality.
But even when Aquino has the legal and constitutional right to call for the public to wear yellow ribbon to manifest support for him, some debate if it is the right thing to do.
First, for many Filipinos, the yellow ribbon represents the collective yearning and demand for honest, clean and good government. However, many lament that it now seems to have been decimated to support the “Aquino brand,” and not necessarily the cause it was originally intended to represent.
This is because at the heart of the present controversy is the Aquino administration’s execution of the DAP. To ask the public to wear yellow ribbon may be tantamount to the Aquino administration wearing the cloak of immunity against any accountability on the DAP.
Let evidences, and not the yellow ribbons, prove he and his men never benefitted from the DAP, whether personally or politically.
Let evidences prove that the taxpayers’ money were really disbursed toward funding programs and services for the benefit of the people.
As “daang matuwid” has always been his credo, Aquino should be an example of transparency and accountability, especially when his administration is the one being questioned.
Second, many Filipinos feel strongly that urging the public to use the “yellow ribbon” as a manifestation of who is for or against Aquino is just so divisive. Aquino is President of all Filipinos, even of those who do not like him, or those who disagree with him, or those who rightfully question his programs.
As many have passionately expressed on social media: At this point in his presidency, PNoy should already be exemplifying that as Filipinos, we should all be wearing the yellow, red, blue, and white colors of the Filipino flag. Not one color makes one or any group more patriotic and more ardent supporter of clean ad honest government than the others.
Finally, if and when the Supreme Court does not reverse its decision despite Aquino’s motion for reconsideration, then the President should again set an example and respect the ruling of the highest court of the land.
Perhaps he can then work on an initiative so that the other co-equal branch of government—Congress—can legislate laws or amend the Constitution to solve the problem in the bureaucracy that DAP hopes to address.
* * *
Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
