On the "caretaker" government

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
7/22/2005



As the “Primer on the Caretaker Council” drafted by the convenors of the group proposing this political transition vehicle explains, the idea of a “caretaker government” is nothing new. We read about it in past or current history, during times of political transitions in parliamentary democracies, times of crisis during or after great conflicts. Even in the presidential systems when a political hiatus prevails because of a sudden fall of political leadership. The Primer cites some instances that should enlighten the public about the regularity of such a measure when need arises:

One of the most interesting instances cited is the case of Nelson Rockefeller as caretaker president when Vice-President Spiro Agnew and President Richard Milhous Nixon stepped down one after the other. Agnew was indicted in a criminal case and Nixon, as all know, got entabled in his own “Hello Garci” wiretap scandal. Senator Gerald Ford was elevated to serve a vice-president upon Agnew’s removal and when Nixon resigned later, declined to assume the presidency but instead appointed Rockefeller; the caretaker period passed without incident.

A caretaker government is regularly set up in parliamentary governments when a ruling party resigns or falls on a “vote of no confidence”. The task of the caretaker government is to maintain the transition from an old government, through new elections and to the formation of a new government. The Primer cites several examples of such transitions, such as Bengladesh in 1990 and Ukraine in 2004. One country that had a surfeit of caretaker government coming up in quick succession is Italy and Thailand during their periods of political crisis and instability some decades back.

Naturally, a caretaker should be differentiated from “caregiver”, the latter for the aged folks or the infirm; but the “sick man of Asia” in ICU now because of Arroyo’s abuse may well need a caregiver. Yet, there might be hope if the country acts on the problems before the lifeblood drains out of the Filipino body polity. Gloria and Noli, and the entire system that grew out of the corrupt Abalos-Carci Comelec and the brazen transgression against the Constitution in the 2001 must step down at once to save the country, and a caretaker council to take over posthaste.

The crucial question is how to form the caretaker council. The Primer suggests that “All those who take a decisive stand and actively participate in successfully removing GMA from the presidency deserve to be properly represented in a post-GMA government. This is where I must beg to diverge with the Primer, because not all who have postured and paraded before the media as anti-GMA can be taken at face value; and not all who pose as anti-GMA can claim to a substantial political constituency and brings nothing to the table at all. This council won’t be as big 50 as reported last time, the number range from 5 to 15.

Abat or Badong Enriquez are rumored to be inserting themselves in the council, but they cannot claim to represent any political bases at all. They cannot even carry their own selves to rallies, and the once or twice that they did the people they brought could fit in a tricycle. Political poseurs like these two are perceived to be mere pawns of FVR as decoys and/or cannon fodder, proxies to fill seats for FVR in any negotiation panel. If these people have a place in a caretaker council, why then not Ronald Lumbao who can mass tens of thousands when he calls; or Jose Maria Sison for that matter!

Constituency, constituency, constituency - that’s vital factor to bring to the table in our national politics, consensus building and unity. There is talk that Eddie Villanueva is in, as well a former presidential candidate Renato de Villa; but again, why should Villanueva or de Villa have more right than Raul Roco, Ping Lacson, and others who even if unwinnable could present a wider constituency and obtain more votes than them anytime. We, of course, assume that the overwhelming majority of the people are going to be represented by their icons, such as Erap Estrada and Susan Roces (Poe). A caretaker council would be meaningless without their presence or representations.

A caretaker government’s main task is prepare for clean and honest, credible elections in the shortest possible time. That will be a yeoman’s task with the vote rigging syndicate operating in the Comelec (ushered in by Christian Monsod when he removed the built-in anti-virus of opposition representation in the Comelec system). Garci is not in the Comelec anymore, but Abalos and Rex Borra are, they are perceived to be the heads of the hydra. The Electoral Tribunal which is an extension of the Supreme Court also requires massive cleaning up, as its members are proven conspirators of GMA and The Firm.

The Truth Commission is a red herring, untrustworthy especially with proposed names like Comelec “deformer” Christian Monsod and “banana constitutionalist” Jesuit Bernas whose apologia for “extra-constitutionalism” is like justification for “extra-marital” affairs. As street lingo says, “Utot commission”. The impeachment is delaying tactics of a pro-GMA and Noli Congress that’s our nation’s bane. The corrupt system must be dismantled and a caretaker government set up to prepare the way for vox populi be heard clearly and loudly.

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