An ‘imperial Senate’ fears its existence is threatened, not the people’s long term interest but their existence and electability
The problem lies in the stealth by which a people’s initiative was begun, and the hilarious proof is seen in the investigation started by Senadora Imee where doltish fronts fumbled at the slightest withering.
Still, members of the HoR have reason to feel bad.
For years and years and through several Congresses, the “imperial” Senate just sat on their proposals to start the process of Charter change.
To borrow the lyrics from that song titled “Mona Lisa” – composed by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston – warbled by the inimitable Nat King Cole, “Many dreams have been laid at your doorstep; they just lie there, and they die there.”
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has listed some 358 ‘cha-cha’ bills filed from the 8th Congress, the latest of which are 14 in the present Congress that have been gathering dust in the Senate.
In exasperation, resident House economist Rep. Joey Salceda said “it would be a waste of time” if the ‘lower house’ waited for their ‘upper house’ counterparts to act on Cha-cha. “Dead in the water,” Salceda rued correctly.
Senate President Zubiri in fact moved only when the President mismo called him and a few others to Malacanang to come up with a solution to the impasse on the economic provisions of the Charter.
But that is another waste of effort, Salceda explains, because while the HoR wants a comprehensive lifting of restrictions, the Senate wants to limit the amendments to only three provisions, covering advertising, education and public utilities.
Indeed, what need is there to allow global advertising companies to come in, when they
have been partnering with our highly creative locals with only the cachet of their names as premium, and the insistence of multinational companies in the Philippine market who want consistency in their messaging?
Why invite Harvard and Oxford which Zubiri cited, to put branches in the country like Asia’s wealthy go-to Singapore?
Only the uber-wealthy can afford these so-called centers of excellence, and their children prefer staying in cold Boston and damp London, ne c’est pas?
Salceda trots out numbers, which is arcane to many in the ‘upper house’: 14 percent potential increase in the GDP as compared to some 2 percent marginal prospects under the Zubiri version.
So, repeat the lines of the Mona Lisa lyrics in this latest attempt to amend the 1987 Charter which one of its authors, former CJ Hilario Davide, said “he would defend with his life.”
All because an ‘imperial Senate’ fears its existence is threatened, not the people’s long term interest but their existence and electability.
If the intentions were good, and I for one agree that not only the economic but, more so, the ‘political’ provisions need to be revisited and revised, the President mismo should have called for a transparent process instead of hiding behind docile congressmen and the puppets they utilized.
My friend and nine years-distant successor in office, Ronald Llamas, kept wondering why PBBM has not employed a ‘political adviser’ (a useless office unless the president listens to its “advice”).
Were it not for the fact that he is a socialist democrat allied with the currently hated “dilawan,” Ronald who is certifiably not ‘pink,’ would have come up with a better plan and implementing strategy, if he were PBBM’s political adviser, which will never be.
But why is the Senate so allergic to change the Charter? Is it truly existential for their chamber?
In a constituent assembly, compromises could be forged between both houses. As I keep writing about, why not regionally elected senators and a two-party system?
Let us look at our 2025 re-electionists: Imee will always be carried by the North, just as Bong Go and Bato will win in their Region 11 handily if we were to go regional.
Pia Cayetano in NCR should still prevail. Two casualties may be actors Bong and Lito, who may reckon with stiff competition if Ping Lacson and GMA were to run, though in nationwide voting, Probinsyano transmogrified into Batang Quiapo and “bu-dots” might yet prevail.
Many in the chamber would win nationally, carried by their celebrity status, never mind their marginal utility. But if they were to be elected by constituents who know them better than the rest of the country, they might falter.
Look at our ‘graduating’ senators: Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, even Koko Pimentel are NCR-based. Sonny Angara is from Aurora with the tiniest population in Region 3.
But if the proponents of Charter change were to advocate a two-party system and a regionally elected Senate, would not the people agree?
And if the President mismo were to propose these ‘political’ changes, would not the people support the same — a saner, more simple, more equitable representation?
SSS — stealth, stupidity, and an ‘imperial’ Senate, these are the obstacles. Is obstinacy still possible?