Public Service or Party Service

So, the House of Representatives has officially impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. If you notice, although, it has been all over the news for weeks now; and it’s something worth writing about, I’ve been avoiding the topic. Maybe, I dipped my feet on the issue for a while, but didn’t really soak paragraphs on it. I do understand what the congressmen and congresswomen have been fighting for. I understand the allegations of misuse of public funds, allegations of discrepancies on the SALN, allegations of bribery to DepEd officials, and allegations of grave threats and sedition. (Notice how I clearly placed the word, “allegation” on each article.) It just feels like I’m being served a bland meal that’s been served before, and rejected by diners multiple times. It feels like I’m watching a movie with the same plot as before; and they’ve been promoting this flick as the hottest new thing. all these will end up futile. But, maybe, that’s just my feeling. I know that as Filipinos, we should involve ourselves in the affairs of the state, be part of the change to make this nation better. But, this is all too tiring. We’ve gone through this a couple of times already, and we keep hitting our heads on a hard concrete wall.

Despite that feeling, there are some fresh elements this time around. The impeachment case has overwhelming numbers. More than 88% - 257 of the plenary voted to adopt the articles of impeachment. Less than 9% or 25 voted not to adopt; and less than 2% or 5 wanted to be safe and abstained. That’s 88 is to 9 is to 2. That 88 could easily swallow the 9 and 2. The constitutional requirement is one-third (106 members) needed to send the case directly to the Senate for trial. 257 is more than two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives. In a way, the articles have satisfied the requirement by more than double the basic requirement. In this democracy, since they are representatives of the Filipino people, indirectly, the represented Filipino people have overwhelmingly by more than 88% pushed that the Vice President whom they have voted be impeached. That’s already one grand statement.

There is also a notable cohesion among this batch of representatives who rally around for impeachment. They seem to be focused on one direction. The past batches seemed to want to want similar goals, but move in slightly divergent paths.

What comes next? The articles will go to the Senate. Wow! It’s so frustratingly fascinating. Just when the articles of impeachment would be going to the Senate, senators decide to oust Tito sen as senate president to make way for Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano who incase you all have forgotten, was former President Rodrigo duterte’s running mate when he ran for president. Of course, he lost to now Mayor Leni. (I wonder how the former president is doing in The Hague. Now, that’s another topic I’ve been avoiding to write about for somewhat similar reasons.) Then, Sen. Bato dela Rosa who had been missing in action for almost half a year now, decides to make an appearance, presumably to make their stand against the impeachment. What are these guys in public office for? Did they run and get elected for the sole purpose of defending a certain family? Whatever happened to public service? So, plenary motions are not for legislation, but for protection and pursuit of party agenda.

Then, in a plot twist, things got incredibly tense in the senate. Senator Bato was chased by NBI agents through the Senate halls in what looked like a movie scene. CCTV Footage shown during the plenary session showed Senator Bato literally running through the halls and even tripping as he tried to reach the Session Hall to avoid the agents. The Senate passed a motion to place him under Senate Protective Custody. Newly elected Senate President Cayetano stated that the Senate will protect its members from "extrajudicial rendition" or arrests by foreign courts (referring to the International Criminal Court). And I thought, Senators Robinhood, Jinggoy and Lito Lapid were the actions stars in the senate. The action and drama don’t stop there. The Senate cited the NBI agents who pursued Bato for contempt, ordering them detained in the Senate's own detention facility. Poor agents, they were only following orders.

Clearly, they’re preparing to quash the impeachment case. That’s why I let out a deep sigh. That more than 88%, that more than two-thirds of representation will just amount to naught, regardless of the merits, because a band of brothers will barricade it with their very lives.

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." -James 3:16