Leni’s lame worldview.

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Our lame-duck Vice President recently made a dire economic forecast:

‘‘The risks we face now as a country have to do with divisiveness and senseless disregard for rule of law,” Robredo said in her keynote speech before the Philippine Investment Retail Conference.

She said that even as the country logged the fastest economic growth in Asia, at 7.1 per cent, for the third quarter of the year, “there are, however, storm clouds in the horizon.” (Read more)

It is amazing how she could make such a fearless forecast after actual experts in macro economics made the following statements about the Philippine economy in the last two weeks. 

• HSBC – ““This implies still-strong growth of 6.5 percent year-on-year in forth quarter versus a first quarter to third quarter average of seven percent. We expect this momentum to continue into 2017 and 2018, and therefore maintain our forecasts of 6.3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively,” Paracuelles said.”

• Bloomberg –  “Gifted with a young population and backed by $50 billion of revenue from remittances and outsourcing, the Philippines is getting an additional boost from Duterte’s $160 billion-infrastructure plan aimed at creating jobs.”

• Philippine Statistics Authority – “The Philippine economy expanded by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of the year, the fastest in Asia, higher than the revised second quarter growth of 7 percent — the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on Thursday.”

• Bloomberg – “We should pay more attention to hard data, which point to very robust growth prospects for the Philippines, given strong domestic demand.”

According to Leni, the Philippine economy is in danger because of the Marcos burial. She proves this point by making banner statements like: 

“There are sectors in our society who insisted on carrying out this act, and therein lay the risk. Such divisiveness and political turmoil distract our economy from the work that would bring growth,” she said.“And ultimately, it is those that are at the fringes of the economy—the last, the least, and the lost—who are the most vulnerable,” she said. (emphasis mine)

How exactly is burying Marcos in LNMB create risks to the country’s economic growth? Yes it is divisive, so is everything else in politics. The real question is – is the issue dividing the country essential to economic stability? Leni seems to think so. 

“We cannot talk seriously about the Philippines’ growth prospects without considering as well the depth and scope of our country’s history. To truly move forward, we must hold a deep reverence for the past, and the truth of its sorrows and victories,” she said.

‘‘The Filipino poor are not faceless facts. Only by respecting the dignity of each person can we hope to empower them and transform them into our co-equals in reform,” Robredo said.” (emphasis mine)

Leni and her minions claim that burying Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani was a sign that Duterte considers Marcos as a hero. She conveniently forgets that Duterte’s reason for allowing the burial is the fact that Marcos was a President and a Soldier – things that makes him qualified according to the law. Duterte never said Marcos is being buried there because he is a hero. Only Leni and her minions claim that because it gives their rant more relevance. 

Yes we must hold a deep reverence for the past and the truth of its sorrows and victories. Did Duterte and the administration ever deny the truth about Marco’s atrocities? Did the Duterte administration make any announcement stating the government will no longer assist martial law victims in getting reparation and justice? The answer is no. 

The best way to respect the dignity of each person is to empower them. The best way to empower them is to make their economic lives better. How does respecting the sensitivities of a certain group of people empower the marginalized? How does respecting the wishes of Leni and her minions help the unemployed Filipino get a job? 

Leni also claims that the burial was a senseless disregard for the rule of law and such acts will weaken the economy. The neglects to mention that the rule of law was clear from the day the Supreme Court made its decision – Duterte has the authority to order Marcos burial in LNMB. What Leni and her minions argue is that the decision was not yet final and executory so the act of burying him there was a disregard for the rule of law. What Leni neglects to tell us is the fact that this is not actually the rule of law but her, and her minion’s, interpretation of the rules. No less than the Supreme Court spokesperson said that there was no legal impediment to the Marcos burial after the court made its decision. In short, Leni and her minions are making a claim or an opinion about the rule of law. Just because some people disagree with their interpretation of the rule of law does not mean there was senseless disregard for it. 

What is most telling about Leni’s statement is the fact that it shows her worldview – that her opinion on matters ranging from legality, economic growth to what gives a person dignity is the only valid world-view. Anyone who disagrees with it is wrong and will be the downfall of the Philippine economy. How else can she disregard the expert opinion of economists? How else can she disregard the statement of the supreme court and its spokesperson? How else can she disregard the fact that Duterte’s socio-economic program is geared towards empowering the Filipino people through strong socio-economic development? 

The best way to empower people is to not have projects that crumble after 2 months. 

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