Original post here.

I write this as an attempt to clear my mind and be objective. The Abads, after all, are good friends. Luis was my classmate and good friend in HS and College. I have visited the family's home and have interacted with them many times. I can personally vouch for their goodness.

What has been bugging me lately is, after reading more about "Too many Abads" in the news, is the thought that some of the criticism might be valid and worth pondering upon. Much of course is grossly exaggerated -- you can expect the media to do that. This article yesterday by Bulatlat, comparing the family to the Arroyos is hilarious as it goes over the top, calling out fire where there is yet none.

The question of course is not whether the Abads are competent to receive those government posts. This is an argument that Pres. Aquino easily wins. Luis graduated summa cum laude of Ateneo while Julia, if I am not mistaken, graduated from the Kennedy School (not to say of course that education is the only thing that factors into competence). The question is whether it is right for any one family, no matter how good they are, to hold key positions at the same time.

And here is where my thoughts are divided. To those who do not know the Abads, there is some reason to be uncomfortable with them holding key posts. Just ask yourselves: does it apply to the general case? If another family, some family you do not know, would have done the same in six years time, by chance or by intention, would you be fine with it? The answer for most would be no.

There is some validity to the concern that congresswoman Dina Abad is vice chair of the appropriations committee, Sec. Butch Abad is head of disbursing the funds laid out by that committee, while Julia will be in charge of the President's pork barrel. The validity of the concern rests on how you can prove these three positions lead to conflicts of interests. My suspicion is that these posts were bestowed upon them in a purely coincidental matter and so it is unfortunate that it turned out this way. These are really great people.

But then again the other side of me thinks that leaving behind good institutions are more important than the best that our leaders can offer. That is, this event leaves a bad precedent for other families to argue the same when it's their turn in power.

George Washington was a heck of leader during his time as president and people wanted him, were persuading him, to rule for more than 8 years. But he knew that if he did not step down it would create a bad precedent for other presidents to follow. And so he stepped down, which was what paved the way for Congress to set term limits to power later on during FDRs time. One of the most poignant places in DC is an empty crypt of Washington below the national capitol building. It is a symbol of this simple act which transformed a monument to him to a monument to open democracy.

I am not saying that the Abads should step down. I believe the appointments were made separately and in good faith. But the concern voiced out by some is probably not as stupid as it is sometimes phrased.