Come election campaign period, the government will be an NPA, or a non-performing asset. Most of the president’s men are eyeing an elective position and almost everybody in Congress will run for something. Following election rules, government appointees and military officials should resign from their post. Legislators and other elected officials, although not required to resign, will be busy with their out-of-town sorties. Altogether, we will be left with an empty shell of a government for several months.

Former NEDA chief, Ralph Recto, led the pack of resignations. Former defense chief, then local government chief, then environmental chief, now energy secretary Angelo Reyes with whom Recto sparred should be quitting soon. Reyes plans to run for Mayor of Taguig.

Presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro will be resigning as defense secretary, as the law dictates. So will his running mate local government secretary Ronnie Puno. Bandied to join the administration party’s senatorial slate are Education Secretary Jeslie Lapus and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Duque tried vainly to gain electoral mileage by exploiting the threat of an H1N1 epidemic to the hilt, and more recently, touting the Cheaper Medicine Act. His office has already spent millions of government funds for paid advertising that imposed himself in the consciousness of newspaper readers and television viewers.

Retired general, former defense chief, ex-presidential adviser on the peace process and now Presidential Management System head Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., will run for the congressional district of his hometown, Asingan, Pangasinan. Presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez will contest a local post as well. Police General Leopoldo Bataoil will run either for congress or for mayor of Lingayen. There are many more from the executive branch who have yet to publicly announced their plans.

These aspirants look up to historically established career paths whereby people became household names as government officials, and then used this name recall to run for public office. The phenomenon reflects the thin line that divides the bureaucrats and politicians in this country. Too often, inept or unqualified politicians are appointed to the bureaucracy. Bureaucrats, in turn, aspire to be politicians. The situation self-perpetuates because the relationship and overlap between the two is mutually beneficial. (With Prospero Nograles Jr. being considered to join the Supreme Court, the threat that politicians will rule the Supreme Court also looms.)

This politicization of the bureaucracy is the major reason why we have weak, dysfunctional state institutions. In this situation, the bureaucracy is captured by and serves the short-term interests of the politicians. Competent people in the bureaucracy are subordinated to their politician- or politician-wannabe bosses who compromise on developmental goals, bend the rules and divert resources.

Whatever destiny or misfortune awaits this crop of aspirants, government and the people are at the losing end. The compulsory resignations will leave the bureaucracy in the hands of adhoc or acting secretaries. Governance will be at a standstill. Programs will be sidetracked, decisions cannot be made, and accountability hard to track.

Even Congress will be a huge empty balloon come election campaign period. Two to four senators will run for the president (Aquino, Villar, Escudero, Legarda), and at least two will settle for the vice-presidency (Roxas, Escudero, Legarda). A good number of congressmen are running for reelection or some other post. Many bills will end up in the gallows without trial, or simply left to rot.

With the president traipsing around the world in search of praise she cannot find at home, there’s little to expect from government until the new administration takes over. The breakdown of the radar system at our Manila airports shortly before the president herself was to fly forebodes this government paralysis and lack of basic management coherence to ensure the smooth functioning of vital services.

The worst part is that despite having left the bureaucracy and congress, these former bosses will continue to have access to the resources of these offices to support their electoral ambitions through their henchmen entrenched in the system.

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So who are serving as inspiration to our aspiring bureaucrats? For Duque, there’s former health secretary Juliano Flavier whose mischievous appeal and catchy campaigns like “Yosi Kadiri” and “Let’s DOH it!” catapulted him to the Senate.

Ramon Magsaysay and Fidel Ramos who jumped from the post of defense chief to president provide backup to Teodoro’s almost impossible dream. However, the circumstances that made their shot at the presidency successful were different. Magsaysay gained fame for his “man of the masses” image and success in neutralizing the Huk leadership. Moreover, he was unabashedly supported by the CIA. Ramos’s ascent is katas ng people power. Cory anointed him against the wishes of her own party, the LDP, which fielded Ramon Mitra. Teodoro, on the other hand, has the unsavory distinction of being associated with GMA’s men. Despite his impressive credentials and honest attempt to do well in his job, he cannot claim any major success in dealing with the Moro, the Abu Sayyaf nor the communist rebels.

For most parts, the presidency usually entailed going up the ranks, from local government, or the Lower House and/or the bureaucracy, to the Senate, before Malacañang.

Email: mcf178@yahoo.com