A laughable comparison By Yen Makabenta Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in his haste to defend his role in the surrender of Janet Lim – Napoles to President Aquino, has unwittingly and carelessly stirred a laughable comparison between President Marcos and President Aquino, and between himself as presidential spokesman to Aquino and Tatad as spokesman and press secretary to President Marcos. In both comparisons, the incumbent officials are hopelessly overmatched against their predecessors. Perhaps Lacierda should ask permission from his principal whether he should just keep his thoughts to himself. Marcos versus Aquino Marcos was a lawyer, bar topnotcher and war hero, and a reelected president of this country. Aquino is an alleged economist who was never employed or engaged as one. Marcos opened strong and beneficial relations with the People’s Republic of China. Aquino is doing everything he can to start a war with China and destroy a very productive and strategic relationship. Marcos started the recovery of Subic Bay and Clark Air Base from the United States during his first year in office in 1966, by getting the US to agree to shorten the lease of the bases to 1991. Aquino is now trying to effect the return of US forces to Subic and Clark. During the Marcos administration, the Philippines recorded its highest rates of GDP growth of over 8 percent in the second half of the seventies under martial law. Under President Aquino, the economy is closing in on 7 percent growth in his fourth year in office, thanks largely to the foundation laid by President Arroyo’s nine years in the presidency. Under Marcos, the country achieved rice sufficiency and exported rice. Under Aquino, the country is heavily importing rice and experiencing the highest prices of the staple in history. Under Marcos, smuggling and crime were reduced to manageable levels. Today, smuggling has reached an epic scale and crime and disorder stalk all corners of the country. Marcos asserted squarely the Philippine claim to Sabah, and recognized the ancestral rights of the family of the Sultan of Sulu. Aquino has completely abandoned the Sabah claim, and won’t even read the letters of the sultan’s heirs. In response to the Muslim secessionist rebellion, Marcos concluded the Tripoli Agreement to bring peace to Southern Philippines and conciliate Muslim grievances. Aquino is now inventing his own peace agreement, in total disregard of the 1996 peace agreement forged under President Ramos. And now the Southern Philippines is again in the throes of conflict. Marcos started the overseas employment program in 1974 and transformed it into a major pillar for Philippine development. Aquino is merely a lucky beneficiary of the OFW program, and is doing little to advance the lot of OFWS. Tatad versus Lacierda Tatad by his lonesome functioned effectively as spokesman and press secretary to President Marcos. Lacierda is backstopped at every turn by the gargantuan communications group featuring Carandang, Coloma, Quezon, and other functionaries to do propaganda and defend the Aquino presidency. Tatad has been elected as senator of the republic and member of the national assembly. Lacierda is unelected and probably unelectable. Tatad is the author of five books, is a working columnist for a major daily, and has spoken extensively in international forums. Lacierda is the author of countless press statements and is a regular speaker at Malacanang press briefings. *** As for my credentials for making these observations, I have the following in my resume: I served as policy research director during the presidency of President Marcos. I have served as senior speechwriter to two very effective presidents of our country I have been chief editor of a national newspaper and written a column for several national dailies. I have served as president of a communications company, and as chair to a non-government organization and major sports program, which never utilized the pork barrel of a senator or congressman. 34 Readers of this story also viewed: Standoff victory will not end the crisis Obama and the future of the UN Jenny’s work for Noy (1) Someone needs to take Internet 101 Transparency for all The good American ‘Secret lunch story sparks angry voices’ Please, have my seat Hearts and minds When reform is not the answer
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:16:41 +0000
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