“When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.” — Thomas Jefferson

IN less than 100 days, President Benigno S. Aquino III has already lost some political capital and public good will that he should not take for granted.

Political popularity is a fickle handmaid that can overnight turn from euphoria to acrimony and opposition. It can acquire a life of its own and can be irreversible.

History is replete with examples of phenomenally popular leaders who ended up as villains in the eyes and perception of the people.

First, having reminded the readers of these historical facts, the tyro government of President Aquino has released to the nation since its assumption of power three significant, indicative policy directions that have fallen on their faces.

These are: (1) the turbulent and controversial odyssey of MC# 1 and Executive Order #2 which are now pending in the Supreme Court; (2) the spotty, lackluster, and lacking in due diligence of the presidential appointments of senior executive officials both in the Cabinet and bureaucracy which have necessitated uncalled – for presidential intervention and defense; and (3) the unfortunate and fatal hostage-taking incident at the Luneta, which needs no additional embellishment and amplification.

What all of these imply is that in the process of hitting the ground running, the newly appointed ground troops of President Benigno Aquino have been stumbling all over the paddy fields, and not swiftly getting their act together either owing to arrogance or hubris on the part of President Aquino’s reluctance and aversion to seek unsolicited advice from elders or non-classmates, or lack of experience, or lack of coordination, or his essentially introvert nature and upbringing.

Second, there is a Newtonian apocryphal saying that “the apple does not fall very far from the tree.”

These tendencies are neither healthy nor presidential as, to reiterate Jefferson’s wise advice, assumption of public office makes one a public property, and subject to public scrutiny.

Truth to tell, based on purveyors of speculative leaks of factional power struggle within the Liberal Party and in the inner circle of President Benigno Aquino as well as the extraneous influences of siblings, uncles, aunties, financial contributors, batchmates, and province mates, there is a growing fear of what will happen when President Aquino runs out of classmates and relatives.

Third, how many of his appointees does the President really know personally, or for a long time, their qualifications and competence, their honesty, character, social background, and stature?

When all is said and done, President Benigno Aquino III must now assume a determined, hands-on, tireless, single-minded, and focused attitude towards his presidential duties and mandate.

He should also give a gag order to friends, relatives, and officials who call on him, or he entertains or confides in.

It is important to remember the phenomenal popularity at one moment in time of Ferdinand Marcos, Joseph Estrada, Corazon Aquino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Sukarno, Benazir Bhutto, Thaksin Shinawatra, and many others.

Popularity can evaporate overnight.

You be the judge.