EU Ambassador says no change in RP for next six years

Outgoing European Union ambassador Alistair Macdonald says governance is the major stumbling block to Philippine economic development, and he believes that it will take more than six years to really effect change in the country.

I believe him. 

For one, look at how the Liberal Party celebrated their anniversary yesterday. Just look at the personalities that took part in the toasting of expensive wine glasses---many of them formerly supported the discredited Arroyo regime. 

These barong-clad tradpols are now "reformed" Liberals. Fact is, they are Lakas men donning Liberal uniforms. 

This reflects the state of our political system. Reason why no one will ever be prosecuted for graft here is the fact that the prosecuting party belongs to the same despicable socio-economic class as that of the ones being prosecuted. Of course, the traditional "old boy's club" mindset always prevail. Those members of the old boy's club has this tendency of protecting their kind.

Worst, the head of that political party is now being positioned as the chief trouble-shooter of the administration. So, this means that, one political party now dominates even the affairs of the executive department. How then will the government say that it is impartial and opens itself to other parties, when it publicly announces the dominance of one party?

What had happened to the Truth Commission? Nada. 

What had happened to the high-profile and celebrated cases of graft reported by the BIR and the Customs? Nada rin.

What happened to the pronouncement of the President that he will protect the public interest and disallow the almost wanton price hikes every single week? Nada.

That's the thing here in our country---we already lost our palabra de honor. 

Worst, we, the People, feel that we were just used by certain sectors to advance their political interests. 

These Liberals exploited the "change movement" during the last elections. Every single one of them shouted for "change". Every single one positioned himself or herself as an agent of change. None, however, did what he's supposed to do when he was already elected. 

We need honest men, men with courage and principles to lead us towards true change. If that happens, then, we don't need six years to transform this country. We can fast-track our way to development if we do the right thing.