[EDITORIAL] Who are the coddlers in the Senate?

The original editorial was translated to English using an online AI translation tool. An editor vetted and revised parts of the translation before publication.

Was there really a Senate coup? Or was it all cosplay when Senator Loren Legarda went up the podium and Senator Migs Zubiri called her “Madam President,” and she banged the gavel? The message for everyone: “We’re cool, we’re not threatened.” 

But Rappler’s sources say there really was a coup, but only for a few hours, and, in the end, transactional politics won. While we are intrigued by the horse-trading and backroom talks, let’s pull out and look at the big picture. 

The coup happened at a time when a draft of the Senate blue ribbon committee report on flood control corruption was circulating among senators. 

That’s like lightning striking the Minority — the blue ribbon recommends filing charges against three senators — Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada — for involvement in alleged corruption in the projects. 

According to Rappler’s sources, only three senators signed the draft resolution “with reservation,” and all three said there should be “interpellation and amendments later.” 

As a counter-move, the Minority courted Legarda, dangling the carrot that was the Senate presidency. Why Loren? Is it because she’s ambitious? Or does she have something to protect, especially since her son has been criticized left and right for alleged opportunism in the power sector? Who knows? (READ: The solar tale: Jurisprudence slays Leviste’s thinly veiled tact | From an investment historic first to hocus-pocus: The Leviste SPNEC story)

If the Minority had seized the Senate presidency, it could have regained control of the powerful blue ribbon committee. That committee used to be the domain of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who recommended that the Discayas be put under witness protection. (READ: Lacson to Marcoleta: Why are you protective of the Discayas?)

This was the time when Chiz Escudero was still the president of the Senate. In those days, only fashion bloggers cared that there was a million-dollar ring on his wife’s finger, and envy, not hatred, was the collective reaction. (READ: Chiz Escudero, Heart Evangelista: Extravagance as love language)

It would have been interesting to see how the Minority would salvage the situation, especially since Ping Lacson, the current chairman of the committee, had already sent out a draft report. 

But knowing this bunch, they told themselves, they’ll cross the bridge when they get there — as long as they’ve overthrown senators Tito Sotto and Lacson from power, any victory is sweet.

That brings us back to our question: What about our interest as citizens?

Don’t these senators all say they are against corruption? Isn’t it time they show the world that they will not give the corrupt a free pass, even if they are their seatmates? 

The Senate coup has stolen the limelight from what the Senate should be working on now, amid an intense public clamor for justice in the face of the flood control mess.

The Senate should be the institution working to achieve justice, good governance, and the rule of law. But politics has overshadowed this core duty. 

And it’s even more disgusting that it’s the Minority that is undermining this work. Is it really all about your vested interest, ladies and gentlemen?

Read the writing on the wall: The economy is taking a hit. Just last week, data came out that unemployment in the country did not decrease even though December usually brings good economic numbers. 

This is because the historic low in public infrastructure canceled out the Christmas gains in the service sector. In other words, construction workers as well as those in transport and storage are out of work. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas itself says that there is a “weakening outlook” and “declining business sentiment” due to the flood control corruption scandal. 

Many are impatient with the slow progress of the investigations. Only a few have been charged. 

Our dear senators, this is a golden opportunity to prove that you are truly honorable — and that you will not cover up the corruption of your fellow senators. So stop the tribalism. 

Release that report, and the majority should sign it. In the end, there should be no coddlers in the Senate. – Rappler.com