Head of government, head of state, spender-in-chief

In reply to President Aquino’s new year’s resolution to ignore all criticism of his presidency and his contention that critics have made a cottage industry of criticizing him, I will devote this column to an exposition of the roles, powers and responsibilities of the presidency in our national life, and the expectations of the public that follow from them.

In the popular imagination, as typified by my barber and my son, the President is the “Spender-in-Chief” in our political system. He commands the biggest budget in government, the most pork barrel, and the most discretionary funds. Nothing is included in the national budget without his approval.