Senators see crisis in DOTC following usecs’ resignation

MANILA, Philippines—The resignation of three undersecretaries at the Department of Transportation and Communication could be a sign of “demoralization’’ and “crisis’’ in the department, some senators said Friday. But others simply saw an “act of decency.”

The undersecretaries’ decision to quit the department on the heels of Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose de Jesus’ resignation was a “big blow’’ to the Aquino administration, Sen. Joker Arroyo said.

“There must be demoralization in DOTC,” he said in an interview. “When there’s a mass resignation of the higher echelon, it’s a big blow. The effect is that the government will be ‘bungi’ (a gap in the teeth). There will be slots unfilled by good people.’’

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the flurry of resignations “may be a crisis of sorts that must be addressed carefully.’’

“Divide and rule as a style of leadership may be effective if used as check and balance by the one in charge, but definitely problematic if it exists as a matter of course among competing subalterns. Worse it slows down governance if left uncontrolled and unsolved,’’ Lacson said in a text message. He did not elaborate.

Senators Gregorio Honasan II, Francis Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon, however, said that the resignations were an “act of decency’’ that would give the new DOTC secretary the chance to pick his own team.

“Since they were serving at the pleasure of the President, that’s the decent thing to do. That reflects some degree of honor, unlike others who have been asked to leave but continue to cling to their posts,’’ Honasan said on the phone. “That’s an act of patriotism and statesmanship.’’

Pangilinan said: “It’s understandable that they follow their immediate superior and that they give the incoming Secretary enough leeway to work with people he or she is comfortable with.’’

Drilon, a party-mate of President Aquino like Pangilinan, even praised the undersecretaries for tendering their resignation.

“That’s very commendable of the undersecretaries to submit their resignations. They’re all political appointees. This should give a chance to the incoming Secretary to firm his own team,’’ he said on the phone.

“It should not reflect on anybody. It should reflect the decency of the undersecretaries in offering to resign,’’ he added.

Honasan said the resignations should not spell doom for the Cabinet or the administration.

“The Philippines is going to collapse because one Secretary and (three) undersecretaries resigned? Is that we’re saying? That should not be the case,’’ he said. “This is a wake-up call, an opportunity for the President to appoint somebody who is of equal or higher caliber so that work in the DOTC will not be delayed,’’ he added.