On strange territory
President Aquino will deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address today. Many are already guessing what the Chief Executive's speech will contain. The Aquino administration is facing its harshest criticism following the Supreme Court's decision on the unconstitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program of the government, where funds from savings were used to jumpstart the economy. And while it may have done the job, the administration is now being asked to explain, especially by the usual critics, who seem to have found the ammunition to take this administration down, or so they think. His fight against corruption is likewise under fire, even as three senators have been charged with plunder and are already in jail, along with the alleged mastermind and one of the senator's chief of staff. More are supposed to follow.
Three impeachment cases have been filed against Aquino, two of them having to do with the DAP while the third having to do with EDCA. The high court has yet to rule on the latter. And while the Palace is not worried about the impeachment complaints, Aquino's trust ratings have gone down. He is now on strange territory.
The President will most probably continue to defend the legality of the DAP, at the same time enumerating its successes. Good faith has always been the main defense of the administration, with many accepting it while outright rejected by the usual, known critics. DBM Sec. Butch Abad has already been summoned by the Senate, and according to some senators, they were not satisfied with his explanations. Why am I not surprised. The opportunity to "shine" was just irresistible.
It will be interesting how President Aquino's SONA will turn out. We all know him to be confrontational, combative even, with his usual slights towards the corrupt and his continued blame for past administrations. We may actually see a shift in tactics, as he is now on the defensive, as opposed to his previous SONAs. With two more years in his term, many will start looking for results. Media is rife with lists of his promises made over the years, and his critics are now having a field day. I will definitely be listening intently on what he has to say.
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