There is something vague about this present debate on what are happening in the senate right now. Let us take it piece by piece so we could tackle the issue with a more define line of reasoning. In the senate there are what’s called ‘the administration’, ‘the opposition’, ‘the minority’, and ‘the majority’. The administration senators are those perceived to have performed at the wishes of the president, the opposition opposes the wishes of the president, the minority voted against Senator Villar for senate president, and the majority voted Villar to become senate president. Clear enough? Good. After the May election, 8 GO candidates for senator won, and since we called GO the opposition party then, we could say the 8 are opposition senators. Of the old still sitting senators, we are very clear of who are administrations, and who are the oppositions. The new senate has not started work yet, so there’s no basis for categorizing the new senators whether they’re administration, or opposition, basing from performance. It’s not fair to say that Jinggoy, Chiz, or Cayetano are administrations just because they voted for Villar, just as it’s not fair to categorize the group of Enrile and Mirriam, and Lito, etc. as oppositions for voting for an oppositionist Villar. The administration senators have no choice but to vote for an opposition senator for senate president because they are a miniscule group. There’s no basis for calling the majority as administration just because a small number of administration were forced by circumstances to join in a voting. Chiz might have misinterpreted the bible (it’s not a mortal sin, eh, John?), but he did not actually said “no one has the right to judge me”, did he? Because, if he said that, for sure I will disagree with him. I hope this post will not muddle the issue some more.

There is no true opposition in this country since the scrapping of the two party system and the adoption of the multi-party system in the Cory Constitution. The situation further aggravates with the introduction of the party-list representatives who are neither opposition nor administration but only serves as vehicles for politicians unable to win in a congressional elections. Let us return to the 2 party systems or lets adopt the parliamentary system of government. We need to change our Constitution and we need it NOW.

Romy, and how can a change in our Constitution change the way we live for the better? Remember what the administration allied Congressmen intended to do first when they were pushing for Charter Change? They wanted to extend their term limits that’s what!

Remember their shameful ways when they tried to ram Constitutional Change down the throats of Filipinos, it was all over nationwide news? Or does you memory fail you.

The problem in the Philippines is not much the Constitution, but it’s the people in government geared to push their self interests rather than the interests of the people.

With people in power like these, I’d rather skip the Constitutional Change than have these circus performing trapos and fake administration supported lobby groups hold the cards in butchering our charter.

Opposition or not, it does not matter. What matters is the integrity of the person in position and his or her consistency to promote and fight for was is good.

Who is good? The one who adheres to Godly principles and shun evil (yes, shuns even gambling, love of money, illicit sex and adultery, addictions, kickbacks, protecting evil allies, false pride, selfish manipulation etc.); one who loves and helps the Filipinos whom he or she represents; the one who loves and cares for the nation - its land, its beauty, its resources, its environment and its blessings. One who is guileless, honest and responsible not only externally as others may view him or her but internally that even God would see and find no fault in the individual. The higher the position, the more stringent these positive characteristics must be found in the person.

For me, the Filipinos should follow a new paradigm; a paradigm of a battle not between people with opposing political interest but a battle between Good and Bad. Check out your backyard those are in political position. Does it have shabu and drug dens, casa or prostitution houses, illegal loggers, irresponsible garbage litterbugs, gangs, the homeless and destitute, gambling dens, corrupt officials,et al? What are you going to do about it? Or a more telling question, are you part of it? Or do you simply ignore it?

By these actions or inactions you will be judged; and if you, oh currently mighty politicians, allow these to happen no amount of going to church, confessions and praising the Lord will save you from His judgment if you continue on your evil ways (honestly for some, it is already quite too late.)

For the good statesmen, of course, there is nothing to fear and vindication will be complete in the end.

Sir,

I would like to express my thoughts on Chiz Escudero. Anybody can accuse me as a ’super’ fan of Chiz but I would be the first to leave his volunteer group if he does not stand by his principles and support GMA.

Our group was able to talk to him last Tuesday regarding his stand as an oppositionist. Without batting an eyelash, he said that as long as GMA is in position he will remain an opposition. If you watched the first three sessions (which I did), he remained the sensible politician that I admired.

He told us that he was never approached by Pimentel to support him in his bid as senate president. When he asked the elder senator, he was told to talk to Jamby Madrigal. Is that the kind of senate leader we want? Someone who cannot speak for himself and needs another person to articulate his position. Escudero added that Villar has requested his support during the campaign period. Escudero waited for other SUPPOSED oppositionists to express their desire for the senate presidency. No one approached him. When he and Cayetano was criticized, he kept quiet because the leaders of UNO particularly Estrada asked him to in order to avoid further rifts in the party.

Mar Roxas and Ping Lacson have their eyes firmly set on 2010. No doubt. Ping has had a history of breaking things up (2004’s rift with FPJ). Why is he so adamant to get the Blue Ribbon Committee?

After winning, Roxas curiously kept a very low profile as a senator. He run in the administration slate. Did categorically said that he is now with the opposition? No. Was he present when Drilon and the rest of the Liberal Party asked GMA to resign? No. He was abroad. When he was asked by reporters if he is now an oppositionist. Roxas did not confirm anything. He played safe as always.

Loren Legarda has the sense of keeping quiet. She needs to. She was never a team player. She only wanted to become the topnotcher in the last elections. She denied dropping the GO slate in her sample ballots but her FATHER gave 2 boxes of sample ballots in our house. Guess what? Only her name, Coseteng’s and Bautista’s was included. Is it rather puzzling why Susan Roces did not publicly support the VP of her late husband in the mid-term elections? Is it rather puzzling that Roces did not openly support the recount of Legarda against Noli De Castro? Why? They found something peculiar in the recount which was shared to us but would be better addressed by UNO members.

I’m so sorry but we should be very discerning who is the REAL oppositionist. If you watched the senate session yesterday regarding the Resolution 22 (Trillanes Resolution), Cayetano and Escudero gave the most impassioned speeches for their incarcerated colleague much like during the impeachment proceedings. Did Roxas, Legarda, and Lacson spoke? No.

Thanks,
Jowana

[…] John Nery blogs about the “true face of the opposition” in […]

Kabayan, our present Constitution is created during the Cory Era not by elected delegates but by the chosen few who were selected because they represents the interest of the church, the elite and the leftist in the inner circle of power. It is the worst constitution we have combining the features of the presidential and parliamentary form of government. The result is chaos and perrenial conflicts.

Romy, the recent Charter Change attempt was done by a trapo elite and rightists with dictatorial tendencies which would eventually result into more chaos and even worse conflicts. Among the Lower house’s initial discussions on Charter Change was to extend their term limits. How typically trapo of them.

[…] Tanangco, sees print tomorrow.) And a few have responded either through this blog, because of this post, or in other […]

change the constitution or not…it will change us and our country for the better…for the reason that we will still be having the same breed of politicians for the next many years…the rotten kind of breed of politicians…oposition or administration…they are all the same

Correction to my previous comment….I meant ¨it will not change us and our country for the better¨

kabayan, i very much agree with you. you have eloquently put into words what i have in mind on what i hoped for our country.

there is just one drawback though, we cannot find a leader with your description today (or we’ll have a hard time finding one and putting him/her into office with the kind of elite democracy we’re having). maybe in a later generation?

we can start doing something though (aside from just voicing our opinion in this blog which i think our younger generation won’t have time to read….of course, i’m supposing you’re already in your 50’s.. just kidding :0)maybe we have to start educating our youth today. when i say educating, not just teach them the necessary “survival facts/stuffs of life” but the essential things in life like “love for country”. they will only learn to love this country if we teach them history the proper way (not just memorize people and dates, mind you) and perhaps they will be able to view our present with more understanding eyes. this will therefore help them make the right decision in choosing their future. i’ll wait for your comment. maybe we can make a joint effort in putting up a sort of “awareness for the youth” or something. not every college graduate really cares for what’s happening around them or are knowledgeable enough to assess what’s happening. of course, i have myself as an example (which is a very fallacious conclusion, i know). it’s only recently that i have the time to care. but had i been informed during my early years, i would have chosen a different path in my life.

if your interested in my suggestion, please e mail me at emz_81@yahoo.com. perhaps, i will be more coherent then.

I strongly agree on the train of thoughts of Kabayan regarding the True Opposition.A pricipled opposition based on jsutice ,equally and care for the nation. The question is who fits the bill? or do we still need to an opposition?My guess is, none at the moment,all the opposition members and some of current member of Ruling Party falls on the same segment of “Trapos”, wala ng pag-ibig sa bayan , wala pang katalinuhan.

Gapan’s question who fits the bill is intriguing. Do we need an opposition? Yes, definitely we do. Because only a good and honest opposition can provide check and balance in government. One does not have to run for public office just to be in the opposition. Opposition takes a form when there is a reason to oppose something. A good and sound leadership will not be opposed for the wrong reasons. However, to aspire only for God-fearing honest and sincere people and disregard other qualities of a good leader is not enough and unrealistic. If we really want change for the better the change should start with us .. the people. We, the people, are supposed to be the masters who decide who should rule over us. It is our choice to choose the best people to lead us, but are we really choosing the best ones for the right job? Are we selective enough to make sure that a prospective leader has the educational qualification, intelligence, experience, moral integrity and leadership to be a leader? If people will only do away with their iconic idolatry of celebrities who are clueless on running a public office; if people will only ignore dynastic politicians many of whom get elected simply on the strength of political dominance and wealth and nothing else; if people will only use their heads and not be naive to believe everything politicians say or promise; and if people will only try to learn from their sad experience never to vote again those politicians that failed them, then you can imagine that the people have chosen well that only the good and reliable people will be left to govern this country.

gapan,

Yes, this is indeed something to think and reflect deeply about.

This would partially explain why Trillanes won a seat in the Senate. Sometimes I wonder why those in power only start moving to clean up their act only when an aggressive group like Magdalo and officers like Trillanes and many others start making waves. Or maybe I’m just too optimistic and those in power are just biding their time until they cut off Trillanes completely from effectively functioning as a Senator.

It is a sad fact that instead of fixing their abusive attitudes, the Executive simply slinks in a corner when they get flak but return like a naughty child to their wayward ways when things quiet down even if they know what they’re doing is wrong.

The Senate vote for Trillanes is actually a silent shout from the Filipinos saying: “Okay, Trapos enough is enough, perhaps when we put in Trillanes SOMETHING positive would happen up there instead of the usual lounging around with your Pork Barrel and thinking of ways to extend your terms”

The administration response is stonewalling Trillanes instead, so as to prevent him from performing his Senate functions. What then would be left of the will of the people when they do this to Trillanes? Are we left with the old Congress Trapos and their old wayward ways as most of them are happy to bed with the Executive in exchange for Pork barrel money and political backscratching?

Indeed gapan, who fits the bill of being anti-Trapo. We might just have to figure this out the hard way.

emerald,

True enough its hard to find the right qualifications for being a responsible statesman.

Actually, supposedly being an opposition or in the ruling majority should not be the issue here. The actual issue is finding Good and Responsible Statesmen, the anti-thesis of a Trapo or Traditional Politician.

The old and even newer politicians have ossified view on politics such that the basic purpose of being in office should be pure SERVICE to the people, unfortunately the bad eggs in power have ways of tempting and changing the new idealistic politicos.

For example, given this threats/ temptations:

“If you do not cooperate with us, you will not receive your budget (i.e. surprisingly being done to our Justices right now), will not have any juicy committee positions, would not be introduced to COMELEC fixers, approval and paperworks on your projects will be “delayed”, will be harassed by the police and secret agents, will not get any influence at all. BUT if you agree to cooperate with our syndicate, you will have it all!”

How’s that for Mephistopheles?

So given these facts, where would we go? Who would be the ultimate anti-Trapo statesman? Maybe emerald the answer is closer than you think. The answer may be YOU and the rest of the youth who would rail against this disgusting system of compromise in the name of “Money the New god”.

You and the rest of like-minded people will just have to bind together to put up an organized front against these fallen corrupt principles. Do not expect victory over them to be achieved in years or even tens of years; what needs to be formed is a movement that would stand the test of time, never ceasing to fight what is obviously wrong even though if the fallen ones are already hailing that “Money is God, hence Ill gotten gains is good!”

Why wait for the leader? The leader is You, the responsible Filipinos, your like-minded friends, and the rest of the decent folks out there who finally says “Enough is enough!”

Perhaps we’ve been doing it all wrong, the decent leader is not Out There, but actually inside Each and Every One of Us who would not allow injustice, fraud, corruption and vice to prevail.

The question is, emerald, are you ready for the long haul?