AFTER western-style democracy and all else have failed, why don’t the Filipino people try to establish a “constitutional dictatorship”?
This was the question posed by controversial legal eagle Salvador Panelo in a series of appearances before mediamen, Rotarians and a television talk show in Davao City last Wednesday.
Panelo, a Manila-based human rights lawyer since the early 70s when Martial Law was imposed, thus spoke and answered questions during the Club 888 media forum for business and tourism at The Marco Polo Davao, the members of the Rotary Club of South Davao, and at The Forum, a talk show on Channel 15 hosted by Mindanao Journal publisher-editor and SunStar Davao columnist Serafin C. Ledesma Jr. Panelo’s appearances were arranged by Edge Davao editor, Antonio M. Ajero, as Club 888 host and chairman of the Council of Presidents of Rotary Clubs in Davao City and president of RC East Davao.
Paraphrasing political analysts, Panelo said the Philippines has now lagged behind its Asian neighbors in progress and development because democracy as defined by the Philippine Constitution has failed to work, the Philippine President’s hands are tied by the non-cooperation of lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate, if not by the opposition of the courts.
Not charter nor presidency
“If the Constitution has been the culprit, why have not things improved after having changed our basic charter several times?” Panelo asked.
“If the problem lies in the Presidency alone, why hasn’t the management of the country improved after the people elected more than a dozen presidents?” he said.
The country has also changed its legislative system several times to no avail — from unicameral to bicameral, then back to unicameral and now to bicameral again.
Abolish Congress
Panelo then proposed the abolition of both Houses of Congress for a change and save at least P7 billion plus in operational expenses annually.
Then give the President unlimited powers to rule the country in 15 to 20 years without extension, this time without the interference of congressmen and senators, he said.
Panelo said the President will have powers to crack down on abusive local government officials, policemen, the military and the judiciary.
He said the strongman leader must have the political will to be able to instill national discipline and remove the Filipino culture of corruption, abuse and other national maladies.
He said such a President, while ruthless in enforcing the laws, must have a kind heart.
Such a President will no longer have an excuse for not being able to solve problems of poverty, injustice and other debilitating problems of the country since all the stumbling blocks shall have been removed through the establishment of a constitutional dictatorship.
He said he believes this kind of legal dictatorship will work because “kahit na abusado tayong mga Pilipino, by nature takot tayo sa otoridad,” (while we are by nature abusive and lacking in discipline, we are afraid of, and respect, authority.)
When asked who he thought would be the most qualified person to become this country’s benign dictator, Panelo replied that many are qualified. However, to him, the best man for the job today is former Davao City Mayor and now Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, an acknowledged disciplinarian but a very kind-hearted man.
During the three forums, Panelo also discussed other issues like the aborted impeachment of resigned Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez which he said had no basis at all.
Panelo has been frequenting Davao since the time he and his wife, Dr. Araceli, a top diabelogist, spent their honeymoon here. [AMA]
