Why is there a need, at all, to assign more security detail to former presidents when they are no longer in the radar of critics and militant groups unless they continue to actively disrupt the daily activities of the country through their active interference.
For one they already have security assigned to them even if their terms are over so why add to the security detail—is it for their family and loved ones. As it is the Filipino people is already paying for such security detail, through our taxes, so why add more burden for us.
These senators, who are kith and kin to former presidents Duterte and Estrada (not much of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) are perhaps asking for more security so that these can be given them for their personal use and they do not have to pay for the wages of these uniformed personnel. With all their fat salaries, allowances, bonuses and other perks, they still have the nerve to charge everything to us? Gosh, these freeloaders.
And Sen. Bato de la Rosa (and three allies of Duterte namely Bong Go, Mark Villar and Francis Tolentino) would even defend giving more benefits to former presidents as not going to cost money for the state coffers. Who funds the coffers anyway, us taxpayers.
He filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1784, or the proposed Former Presidents Benefits Act of 2023, seeks to “maintain the dignity of the Office of the President and honor former Presidents of the Republic,” according to its authors. Dignity is what they would enjoy in their lives had they been compassionate, kind and proved themselves worthy of their former posts. It is not to be exacted.
“Go noticed the pitiful [situation of] the ex-presidents,” he said. “While they are already retired as presidents, many are still requesting… their appearances in [social] affairs. But they have no staff to write their speech or even prepare their schedule.” (Then they must learn or hire someone from their own pockets. Why charge it to us).
Go cited Duterte as example. “He’s no longer president, but he has many social engagements and responsibilities. Nobody is taking care of his schedule and speech.” Then he should learn to use his time properly. Given his habit, as president of ditching his prepared speeches, why invent this reason now.
“While their terms [of office] have already ended, it did not mean that their services and sacrifices for the country have also ended. They continue to help the people, that’s why the threats on their lives are also still there,” lame excuse.
Three months after he stepped down, Duterte who faces a drug war investigation by the International Criminal Court had become “really bored” with his life as a private citizen. Well is he afraid of his own ghost.
As for Arroyo she is incumbent representative of Pampanga’s second congressional district and a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, while Estrada has retired from politics after his failed reelection bid in Manila’s 2019 mayoral race.
Some privileges enjoyed by ex-presidents are tax free annual pension of P40,000 under Marcos Sr. (which was raised by Cory Aquino to P96,000 or at P8,000 a month), free postage for all correspondences; officer-led security detail; diplomatic passports and they are met by foreign affairs personnel and they enjoy certain courtesies at the host country.