Dramatic Irony

It’s the fourth Monday of July, the date prescribed by the 1987 Constitution as the time when the President of the Republic goes to the Plenary Hall of the Batasan Pambansa complex to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In the SONA, the President tells the status of the country, accomplishments of the previous year and sets policy direction for the remaining period of his term. It is delivered in the presence of the Vice-President, the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Supreme Court Chief Justice, past presidents, members of the diplomatic corps and key religious leaders.
Three senators of the Republic facing plunder charges are missing in today’s SONA — Ramon Revilla, Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.

Earlier, the Sandiganbayan suspended Estrada and Ponce Enrile from the Senate for 90 days and I believe the decision is relevant to today’s event. Imagine how the police would handle mass protests in Metro Manila and other urban centers had the accused been given a pass by the court for them to attend the President’s SONA, a duty of a national lawmaker. Puerteng gubota.

The SONA enjoys a captive audience which includes the fourth estate. The media has set up elaborate preparations before and after the SONA to ensure not just wide coverage but a thorough and broad analysis of the President’s report card. It is also streamed online.

There is dramatic irony in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 5th SONA because in July 26, 2010, he stood for the first time before a similar audience armed with a crusading zeal to eradicate graft and corruption through the administration’s matuwid na daan (straight path) campaign.

In his fourth year, the key address will be delivered against the backdrop of 2 impeachment complaints over the executive branch’s creation and use of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). He faces a 3rd impeachment complaint over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

President Aquino is not in danger of being impeached but there is a sense of a gathering political storm that can no longer be set aside and that is why I think key SONA inputs are meant to relieve the growing political malaise.

Reports say the President will push the green light for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill in today’s SONA. Another legislative priority is the Bangsamoro Basic Law. And based on my reading of events, I think Congress will also push for Charter Change. Moves to amend the Constitution mysteriously pop up when there is a political crisis.

The FOI bill has always seen rough sailing in Congress and it remains to be seen if the proposed law, which calls for more transparency and accountability in governance – two principles which collide with the interests of powerful politicians and vested interests, will really be passed.

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Past SONAs are like showbiz events wherein lawmakers and their spouses, Cabinet officials, members of the judiciary and other top government officials parade in their finery before television cameras. Celebrity culture feeds public interest in the SONA because a number of congressmen, senators and local government officials are showbiz personalities.

Such has been the tradition and mainstream media is somehow primed to deliver the intention of some people attending the SONA – to be seen and heard. So they go to great lengths to look their best by wearing expensive Filipino inspired gowns and suits, and going to beauty clinics for nips here and tucks there well ahead of the important event.

However, given the general resentment for the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the equally controversial DAP, the political climate is such that movie and TV celebrities-turned-politicians including politicians who ape showbiz stars will not glide in the SONA red carpet today, unless they want the public to turn into a lynch mob.