Monday, June 27, 2022
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

For a responsible, credible opposition

Emil JuradobyEmil Jurado
May 24, 2022, 12:00 am
in Columns, Opinion, To The Point by Emil Jurado
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
665
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“We need to maintain check and balance among our institutions.”

Santa Banana, with only oppositionist—Risa Hontiveros—getting elected in the Magic 12 circle of senators, I wonder what kind of opposition we will have under the incoming administration of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

There are of course Senators Franklin Drilon and Koko Pimentel. But, with only three oppositionist senators in an institution that serves as the check and balance of the executive, how can there be a credible opposition in the Senate?

In the House of Representatives, there is of course the Makabayan Bloc and the Yellows turned “Pinkos”. But, with the Makabayan Bloc, the congressional fronts of the communist movement, we can only have the anti-government noises, not the responsible opposition we expect. My gulay, this worries me because without dissent, there can only be tyranny.

What we need is a responsible opposition, not the kind of noise and bluster the Yellows and the party-list Makabayan Bloc is showing. Hopefully, some of the independents in the Senate will every now and then serve as the check and balance to the executive.

• • •

ADVERTISEMENT

Leyte Rep. And House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will surely be the next Speaker endorsed as he was by former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In the Senate, reports have it that it will be a fight between Senator Cynthia Villar and Senate majority Leader Migz Zubiri. There were earlier reports that aside from Villar, Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Sonny Angara will vie for Senate President. Whoever will become Senate President, since all the names mentioned, to my mind, are well-qualified, what matters more is that there is need for a responsible opposition in the Senate, which is expected to be the check and balance of the executive.

It is for this reason why presumptive president Bongbong Marcos must be very careful in choosing the people who will comprise his cabinet. People expect Marcos to name people with impeccable credentials of honesty and integrity, and of course, competence. So far, so good as they say with incoming Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as secretary of Education; with former MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalaos as Interior and Local Governments secretary; with former Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma as Labor Secretary again, and with Susan “Toots” Ople, daughter of Marcos Labor Secretary and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople, to head the new Department of Migrant Workers.

The success or failure of an administration largely depends on what cabinet secretaries are appointed as alter egos of the President. It is known that a president can either sink or swim depending on the success or failure of the cabinet. And we all know that we the people can also either sink or swim with the president.

It matters so much that there is also a responsible opposition in the House. When I talk of opposition, I am not referring to the Yellows turned “Pinkos”, much less to the communist fronts in the House of Representatives or the activists, but to an opposition that is reasonable and responsible, and above everything else, believable and credible. With dissent, we all know that an administration in power is prone to abuse and corruption. With a new President, it’s a chance for us, the people, to start anew for a better Philippines. It is for this reason why we expect a lot from Bongbong Marcos.

But, with so many challenges confronting incoming President Bongbong, like jump-starting economic recovery, and providing jobs, Marcos certainly needs support, not only from the business community and investors but also from the opposition. The most crucial incoming President is the first 100 days. He must hit the ground running, especially so because of the great challenges he has to face.

The call for unity under the banner for Bongbong and Sara is appropriate at this time because an incoming administration certainly needs all the support it can get, not only from supporters and the over 31 million voters for the BBM-Sara tandem but from the opposition. As I said, we either sink or swim with the BBM-Sara tandem. At no point in Philippine history is there a greater need for we, the people, to unite for the common good.

• • •

An intriguing question has come up if the Supreme Court will decide to stop the canvassing of votes of presumptive president Bongbong and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio. If the Supreme Court stops the canvassing of both, the question is not in the absence of Congress, but who will act as acting president in the afternoon (12:01 pm) of June 30, 2022?

To avoid such a situation which would constitute a constitutional crisis, lawyer and former Government Corporate Counsel Philip Jurado suggests that Senate President Tito Sotto must step down now as Senate President on or before June 3, 2002, the last day of the Senate session, to enable the Senate to elect who the next Senate President will be.

As we all know, the Senate President is next in the line of succession in case there is no president and vice-president. The Speaker of the House comes after the Senate President. But, until when will the Senate President act as acting president? Santa Banana, that is why it’s important for the Supreme Court not to stop Congress in its constitutional duty to canvass the votes and proclaim the president-elect and the vice president-elect.

It is well, however, that the Supreme Court, in view of petitions to stop the canvassing and proclamation of the incoming President, not to issue an injunction, but instead to ask comments from Bongbong and Congress on the petitions, instead of stopping Congress from canvassing the votes

• • •

Presumptive president Bongbong Marcos had wanted to be proclaimed and take his oath as the next President of the republic his oath of office at the Quirino Grandstand as all Presidents before him did. The problem is that a portion of the Grandstand had been converted into a small hospital and a vaccination center. It’s for this reason why the Marcos camp is now looking for another venue to accommodate all his supporters and everybody else who would like to be there.

That should be no problem. For one thing, that portion of the grandstand where the temporary hospital is located, below the grandstand which can easily be accommodated in other hospitals. And for another, that portion of the grandstand can easily be repaired now that COVID-19 cases can be easily accommodated in permanent hospitals.

What matters more is that Bongbong Marcos would be breaking tradition if his oath-taking would be in another venue. Quirino Grandstand carries a lot of memories to many people like me. It would indeed be unfortunate if the incoming President would take his oath in another venue.

This is a plea to Bongbong: Please take your oath of office at the Quirino Grandstand. It carries a lot of tradition and memories. Your late father, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr took his oath in that place, as did all other Presidents before him, except for Joseph E. Estrada who took his oath at the Barasoain Church, and Cory Aquino at the Club Filipino. Please follow tradition.

• • •

Last May 14, 2022, my wife and I celebrated our 67th Wedding Anniversary. We thank our Lord for the great blessing.

Tags: Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.Franklin DrilonHouse of RepresentativesKoko PimentelRisa Hontiveros
ADVERTISEMENT
Emil Jurado

Emil Jurado

To The Point

Related Posts

Covid-19 sets back poverty reduction

byManila Standard
June 27, 2022, 12:15 am
0
172
Covid-19 sets back poverty reduction

"The number of Filipinos in poverty has now risen to over 26 million, just under 25 percent of the population"...

Read more

A sustainable post-pandemic world

byOrlando Oxales
June 27, 2022, 12:10 am
0
188
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The string of yellow alerts because of unscheduled shutdowns of power plants, the runaway price hike of petroleum, the highest...

Read more

The president’s team

byLito Banayo
June 27, 2022, 12:05 am
0
320
A crisis president

"BBM must see through the charlatans who pander to populism and look for effective problem solvers with well-balanced solutions and,...

Read more

Too fertile an imagination

byCharlie V. Manalo
June 27, 2022, 12:00 am
0
347
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The funny thing is they are still very much in existence, doing what they do best—That is to criticize the...

Read more

Railway system for agri products

byManila Standard
June 25, 2022, 12:20 am
0
289
Railway system for agri products

It's commendable for President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., to acknowledge that the country is facing food crisis and take it upon...

Read more

Congress and the incoming administration

byTony La Viña
June 25, 2022, 12:15 am
0
335
Denying Villafuerte justice

In my last column, I wrote about the judiciary. To that article, I must add that I really believe that...

Read more

Stories you may like

  • Ex-Naga dad links Leni’s brother-in-law to illegal drugs

    Ex-Naga dad links Leni’s brother-in-law to illegal drugs

    36742 shares
    Share 14697 Tweet 9186
  • Of course, it was BBM’s project

    30877 shares
    Share 12351 Tweet 7719
  • INC endorses BBM, Sara

    28806 shares
    Share 11522 Tweet 7202
  • Duterte’s seven biggest achievements

    21935 shares
    Share 8774 Tweet 5484
  • Marcos leads SWS survey on presidentiables at 50%

    13583 shares
    Share 5433 Tweet 3396

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Police investigate deaths of 21 teenagers at S. African tavern
  • PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION: Notice of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
  • Booster for kids 12 to 17 put off
  • Filipina Queen
  • 5 killed, 2 missing in boat mishaps off Bohol, Bataan
  • WHO: Monkeypox a deeply evolving threat
  • Guevarra to let his successor complete review of drug war
  • Supporters, fans flock to ‘Salamat, PRRD’ concert

Advertisement

Latest News

WHO: Monkeypox a deeply evolving threat

byAFP
June 27, 2022, 12:45 am
0
201
Experts: Monkeypox hard to detect

The World Health Organization's chief said the monkeypox outbreak was a deeply concerning evolving threat but did not currently constitute...

Read more

Guevarra to let his successor complete review of drug war

byRey E. Requejo
June 27, 2022, 12:40 am
0
195
Control gate to replace BuCor wall

Outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said it is now up to the incoming Marcos administration to continue the...

Read more

Supporters, fans flock to ‘Salamat, PRRD’ concert

byManila Standard
June 27, 2022, 12:35 am
0
413
Supporters, fans flock to ‘Salamat, PRRD’ concert

Heavy rains did not dampen the spirits of thousands of supporters and fans of President Rodrigo Duterte who attended the...

Read more

BBM says family in transition, prays for good weather

byRey E. Requejo
June 27, 2022, 12:30 am
0
379
Quezon beauty is Ms. Global, first for PH

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is praying for good weather when he takes his oath as the 17th President...

Read more

AFP spokes heads PSG, senior aide to the President

byManila Standard
June 27, 2022, 12:25 am
0
308
AFP spokes heads PSG, senior aide to the President

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala as acting commander of the...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App