THERE is no reasonable explanation for President BS Aquino 3rd’s veto of the bill granting pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) a much-needed increase of P2,000 a month. It was a cruel, heartless decision by a leader – we use that term here in the most cynical way possible – who is incapable of empathy, and has absolutely no conception of the day-to-day needs of ordinary citizens.

The measure, HB 5842, would have increased the monthly pensions of SSS recipients now collecting P1,200 per month to P3,200 per month, and recipients collecting P2,400 per month to P4,000 per month.