MANILA, Philippines – In his own words, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has said, “I don’t want to say this, but if I were in the place of the President, I will refer the recommendations to the Secretary of Justice and tell her, ‘Proceed, as you recommended.’”

The Senate leader’s comment was meant to put in context the Incident Investigation Review Committee report on the August 23 hostage tragic episode which the IIRC submitted to President Benigno C. Aquino III for final determination.

“I would have done that,” Senator Ponce Enrile said, and rightly so, instead of burdening the President with what should be the function of the Secretary of Justice.

Prosecution belongs to the Justice Department not the Office of the President, it is as clear as that. According to reports, the IIRC is recommending the filing of both administrative and criminal cases against 13 officials and police officers as well as three top media networks that the committee found liable for bungling or mishandling the milieu.

In another instance, also in the Senate, Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III, chairman of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, has accused President Aquino of creating confusion in the management of governmental affairs.

He accused Malacañang of foster ing violation of the revised Administrative Code, pointing to the “flawed policy of dividing the powers of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments.”

Guingona was commenting on what he described as “controversial division of labor at the DILG.”

Under the arrangement as explained by the President himself at the height of the hostage controversy, acting Secretary Jesse Robredo was given the responsibility of taking charge of the Local Government units while acting DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno would be at the reins of the Philippine National Police.

This arrangement gave reason for Robredo to disown any responsibility for the hostage quandary, pointing to the instructions given to him by the President himself to concentrate on the local governments while Puno takes care of the police part of the DILG turf.

Guingona who has called on the administration to correct such policy lapses appears seriously disturbed in the event that the decision of the Undersecretary which is submitted directly to the President runs in conflict with the Secretary’s own decision or judgment.

That is a tragic flaw that could taint the Aquino administration and in the process erode public confidence in the President himself.

There are other cases, of course, that call for government intervention.

One of them is the current jueteng controversy, again. But that’s another story to talk about, and about which the pros and cons in and outside of the government have a lot to say.

How such mundane things affect us all.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)