Aquino Cabinet like a fraternity

'Instead of competence, instead of the kinds of consideration based on really rational discussion, loyalty is what counts,' says resigned Akbayan Representative Walden Bello

RESIGNED. Akbayan Representative Walden Bello resigns from Congress but will stay with the party. Rappler photo

MANILA, Philippines Loyalty instead of competence.

This was how resigned Akbayan Representative Walden Bello described President Benigno Aquino IIIs style of governance, adding that his Cabinet was being run like a fraternity where loyalties, rather than competence was prime.

Hes a very stubborn president, and I think this is one of his flaws. Another flaw is that he very loyal to his subordinates who are either very corrupt or incompetent. And parang fraternity ang takbo ng Cabinet (The Cabinet is being run like a fraternity), Bello told reporters on Wednesday, March 11.

The Presidents loyalty to his friends in government is one of the many things that have haunted him more than a month after Oplan Exodus, a January 25 police operation that saw at least 65 people, including 44 elite cops, dead.

The Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) operation, which aimed to neutralize two terrorists, was kept a secret from military and police officials.

In contrast, Aquinos close friend, Police Director General Alan Purisima, was a key person in the operation despite his being preventively suspended over graft charges at the time.

Instead of competence, instead of the kinds of consideration based on really rational discussion, loyalty is what counts. Unfortunately, a Cabinet is not a fraternity. If you run a country with a fraternity, youre not going to get anywhere, Bello said.

Purisima eventually resigned as PNP chief after the Mamasapano incident.

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Aquino Cabinet like a fraternity