Twists and Turns

This has gone so far. It branched off to a different direction which branched off to different directions which by themselves, branched off to more different directions. This isn’t a movie anymore. It’s a soap opera in multiple seasons. The senate soap is actually more exciting. Most teleseryes can end up being predictable, but the Senate has not failed to shock us with something unexpected every few days. Did you expect a minority walkout? Did you expect a majority boycott? Did you expect Senator Chiz coming to session to indirectly help Senator Win Gatchalian to the position of Acting Senate President? Did you expect that the next head of the senate would be Gatchalian? You probably expected Senators Sotto, Lacson or Zubiri. Did you expect Senator Allan Peter Cayetano’s group to hold a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing without the other senators? I expected them to waste the day away by giving speeches against the other group. Even before all these, did you expect for a shootout in the Senate? Did you expect a senator to be so upset because no one asked her how she was? Believe me, in the middle of the confusion in that Mindanao earthquake, someone would miss to ask at least one person how he or she was. This series of events does not run out of unanticipated plot twists and turns. If a TV or movie production company would adapt this story, who could they talk to, to get the rights?

Although one or some senators would deny it, this whole fiasco got triggered when the articles of impeachment loomed over the Senate. Come on. Just look at the timing. Are they implying that they just woke up one day and decided to change leadership, regardless of the events in Congress? Oh, come on. But, what started as a rally for the ramparts for die-hard defense has turned out to be critically calculated attacks against colleagues. Interestingly, former Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano (I hope he likes that title over being referred to as a mere “senator”.) has developed an abhorring annoyance against the Tulfo brothers in the Senate. Then, coincidentally, I just found out that recent national Pulse Asia surveys placed the Tulfo senators at the top of potential mock presidential matchups. Isn’t that an interesting coincidence that all of a sudden Senators Erwin and Raffy are simultaneously the targets of annoyance and allegations of the Cayetano group, not Lacson, not Sotto, not Zubiri, not Hontiveros, not Gatchalian, but specifically, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo. Isn’t the coincidence interesting? There’s actually a congruence there, a coming to full circle, so to speak. The Cayetano bloc took senate leadership before the articles of impeachment against VP Sarah Duterte comes to the Senate. Now, the Tulfos are being attacked with accusations because surveys are showing that they are strong contenders against VP Sarah Duterte for the presidency come 2028. I just wonder. Do all these group’s actions revolve around just one personality?

A secondary tributary of this system is An Overriding Passion, fixation or obsession for position. These past days, we have witnessed a senator hogging Faceboook live exposure, taking offense over the mere term of “senator” and not “senate president”, and not being on front pages of broadsheets. Then, later, he would lobby to the recognized Acting Senate President for both their names to appear as signatories on official documents. What is this? This is appearing to be a ridiculously, misplaced, uncontrolled strong desire for position and attention. A senate president is still a senator. Newspaper editors have the prerogative on what to put on their front pages, even choosing to set aside newsworthy personalities. Who has ever thought of sharing signatory lines at the bottom of official documents? This reactions and actions are such desperate measures to cling to position and power even to the point of being absurd. One of his colleagues has remarked that he should talk to the Senate Psychologist. That could have been meant to be a humorous insult. But, maybe, he really, seriously needs some counselling. But then again, that would only work if he is open to counselling or any form of help. I doubt if he would acknowledge that he needs help at all.

In an interview, one senator from the now majority commented that he does not see any light at the end of this tunnel. But, I beg to disagree. I think, things are getting relatively better. The Cayetano bloc has come back to sessions. There’s a semblance of some order with an acting senate president, which is supported by Jurisprudentes, Supreme Court decision precedents, and recognition from the executive branch and the House of Representatives. Senate has gone back to work. The argument of the 18 bodyguards has been quickly and strongly demolished. But, just like the prior weeks, we don’t know what to expect, and what comes next.

Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.