Hypocrisy of Power: President BS Aquino's Wang-wang Mindset

What happened to BS Aquino's "no wang-wang" policy?

During his inaugural speech, President BS Aquino asked:

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

[Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.]

Since then he did not allow his convoy to use the siren. This is what we called the “no wang-wang policy” of BS Aquino. It’s really a challenge to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) escorts to comply with this new policy, particularly for security reason, but they followed the orders of the Chief Executive. Then, during his Second State of the Nation Address (SONA), he elaborated his “no wang-wang policy” and criticized the use of wang-wang as a mindset of entitlement-- utak wang-wang--of those people in authority to get their way ahead over the ordinary citizens in various business dealings with the government. He said:

At sa mga minamahal kong kababayan, ang aking butihing mga boss:

Humarap po ako sa inyo noong aking inagurasyon at sinabing: Walang wang-wang sa ating administrasyon. At ngayon, patuloy nating itinitigil ito. Naging hudyat at sagisag po ito ng pagbabago, hindi lamang sa kalsada, kundi pati na rin sa kaisipan sa lipunan.

Sa matagal na panahon, naging simbolo ng pang-aabuso ang wang-wang. Dati, kung makapag-counterflow ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, para bang oras lang nila ang mahalaga. Imbes na maglingkod-bayan, para bang sila ang naging hari ng bayan.  Kung maka-asta ang kanilang mga padrino’t alipores, akala mo’y kung sinong maharlika kung humawi ng kalsada; walang pakialam sa mga napipilitang tumabi at napag-iiwanan. Ang mga dapat naglilingkod ang siya pang nang-aapi. Ang panlalamang matapos mangakong maglingkod—iyan po ang utak wang-wang.

[And to my beloved countrymen, my Bosses:

I stood before you during my inauguration and promised: we would do away with the use of the wang-wang. This one gesture has become the symbol of change, not just in our streets, but even in our collective attitude.

Over the years, the wang-wang had come to symbolize abuse of authority. It was routinely used by public officials to violate traffic laws, inconveniencing ordinary motorists—as if only the time of the powerful few, and no one else’s, mattered. Instead of behaving like public servants, they acted like kings. This privilege was extended to their cronies and patrons, who moved along the streets as if they were aristocracy, indifferent to those who were forced to give way and were left behind. Abusing privilege despite promising to serve—this is the wang-wang mindset; this is the mindset of entitlement.]

Clearly, for BS Aquino, the use of wang-wang is associated with the abuse of power as entitlement of those who are in authority, particularly the political leaders in the public service. The use of wang-wang by the powerful few is a display of position and power over the ordinary citizens who are rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of the former. For BS Aquino, this practice becomes a way of doing in the government. He called it the wang-wang mindset; the mindset of entitlement. Thus, he promised to his 'Bosses", the Filipino people, that his government will do away from this wang-wang mindset. Certainly, this wang-wang mindset is not easy to change but BS Aquino has made it a symbol of change for his administration.

On July 17, 2012, the convoy of BS Aquino was delayed because one citizen driving his red Tamaraw FX did not give way to the presidential convoy. The PSG escorts apprehended him and asked for his driver's license. They found out that he was a Senior Police Officer Ricardo Pascua from Quezon City Police Department. The yellow media reported the incident quoted Edwin Lacierda, the spokeperson of Malacanang, saying that Pascua was “quite arrogant” and PSG Commander Brig. General Ramon Mateo Dizon saying that the conduct, for not wanting to yield, of Pascua was a “gross disrespect to the Commander-in-Chief”. The reporters did not even bother to interview Pascua to get his side of the story. The PSG Commander called the Station 4 commander Supt. Crisostomo Mendoza, the supervisor of Pascua, and, as a result, Pascua was relieved from service.
 

There are two issues involved here: (1) the mamang driver did not give way to the convoy of President BS Aquino and was dismissed from service; and (2) the mamang driver was a police officer who have several offenses which merit dismissal. The story line of the reports is focused now on the abuses made by Pascua while still in service. The administration has excavated old cases of Pascua in order to justify the dismissal of the police officer. However, the main issue is concerned with the no wang-wang policy of BS Aquino. This case only proves how the powerful elite can manipulate things in their favor. 

The yellow media became subservient to this dominant "wang-wang" mindset of those people elected to serve but demand more privileges and even respect from the ordinary citizens. Various accusations are now disclosed to the public, through mainstream media, in order to discredit the police officer. But this is entirely a different case. The change of focus to the “several violations” of the cop is meant to cover up the real issue-- the failure of BS Aquino to honor his no wang-wang policy. The incident was an acid test of this policy, and sadly, the president failed. President BS Aquino, too, has a wang-wang mindset.

Whether there's a siren or not, the principle applies that there's no more "hari ng daan". This is the gist of BS Aquino's no wang-wang policy? The wang-wangs were the symbols of power, influence and perks. He asked, “Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada?” He then added: “Ako rin." This was during his inaugural address when he said "kayo ang boss ko".

Moreover, the PSGs, who are not traffic enforcers or police officers, asked for Pascua's driver's license. Why should he gave his license to not traffic officers? Whatever reports received by the chief od the Presidential Securty Group, General Dizon called the police chief who has direct supervision of the Pascua and boom, the "arrogant" police officer was quickly relieved from service. Plain and simple, pure display of power. The relieve from service due to various offenses in the past is only an after thought; it was meant to justify the dismissal.

The point is that BS Aquino wanted to get rid of this symbol of power and privilege and now that he's in power, he used the same power and privilege to push aside any man in the street when he passed by. For security reason, high officials may use this privilege. But BS Aquino wanted to set an example. Sadly, he did nothing to stop penalizing the guy who did not see his blinking lights. Mas maganda pa siguro kung gumamit siya ng siren upang marinig ng mga motorista. Wala rin naman silbi ang no siren policy kung gusto pa rin niya na pagbigyan siya kung dumaan siya sa daan. Even if the mamang driver did see the blinking lights, he should not be punished for blocking the convoy of the president. The fault of this mamang driver is that he took line, hook and sinker BS Aquino's promised of no wang-wang and that the people, including him, are his bosses. The word to describe BS Aquino's action that led to the dismissal from service (temporarily or permanent) or inaction to prevent the drastic action against the mamang driver is HYPOCRISY!

Well, the no wang-wang policy of BS Aquino is hypocrisy at its best. It is a hypocrisy of power!