The times, they’re a-changing

E·N·Q·U·I·R·Y
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL

The times, they’re a-changing
Sunday, 11 19, 2006

Would it not be simpler if the government dissolved and the people elected another? — Bertold Brecht

This quatrain would surely have a reply in the positive if Joe de Venecia and his minions succeed in transforming the bicameral Congress into a unicameral parliament. But time is against them, and I have bad news for them: Twelve senators will be elected in May 2007, thanks to Justice Tony Carpio, et al. who put down a brazen attempt to trifle with the Constitution.

The senators whose terms will end in 2010 are Jinggoy Estrada, Jamby Madrigal, Johnny Enrile, Fred Lim, Nene Pimentel, Mar Roxas, Dick Gordon, Pia Cayetano, Pong Biazon, Lito Lapid and Miriam Santiago. Except for Lapid and Santiago whose blind loyalty to Malacañang is beyond cavil, the 10 others are of independent mind, have a common aversion to the truth decay that characterizes the pronouncements of Malacañang, and are expected to decide always on the side of truth and decency.

With 12 seats up for grabs, the opposition needs only 3 senators to constitute a majority Malacañang will have to reckon with, a force that will stand against any shenanigan that Malacañang will most likely inflict on the nation.

There are six reelectionist senators: Ed Angara, Loi Ejercito, Ping Lacson, Manny Villar, Joker Arroyo and Kiko Pangilinan. With the exception of Pangilinan whose political fortune under honest elections has become nil, following his shameful railroading of the 2004 national canvass, all others are a shoo-in. Lacson will run for mayor of Manila; that leaves five added to the 10 already on-board, making a formidable number of 15 senators that Malacañang cannot easily shake.

The opposition needs seven more senators. Having lately become a frequent giver of unsolicited advice, I advance the following criteria for a good candidate:

1. He must not have contributed to the current division in this country; conversely, he must stand out as a healer of that division; all the lying, cheating and stealing by Malacañang have their genesis in the fraud during the 2004 elections. This disqualifies one of its chief architects, now more famous as Senator Noted than as Senator Megastar. And this eminently qualifies Peter Cayetano, whose efforts to ferret out the truth is part of the healing process. Only with the truth being out can the national rift be healed, for then the truth exposed becomes the clarion call for everyone to move forward.

2. He must be consistent in his stand on major issues bedeviling the nation; corollarily, his pronouncements must reflect the true sentiments of the people. Rolex Suplico should make the grade. Rolex has been waging a lonely fight against a once-powerful man, the headman of the fraud in Iloilo in 2004, now disguised as a pseudo-oppositionist. The consistency of Rolex puts him in my list, very much ahead of Chiz Escudero whose malleable leadership of the opposition makes many wonder which side he is on today, or yesterday, or tomorrow.

3. He must not have a personal political agenda; conversely, his heart, mind and soul must beat to the tune of the opposition battle hymn. This reminds me of Imee Marcos, whose cause has always been with the opposition. I cannot find any chink in her armor suggesting that any time she would abandon the cause of the opposition. Imee has been consistent. I cannot say the same of Sonny Osmeña; Cebu knows that too well.

4. He must have the intellect as well as the stomach to remain standing in the midst of the muddle that controversies breed; alternatively, he should put his mind where his politics is. That puts lawyer Harry Roque atop my list. This intelligent, young man abhors politics, preferring to bring the issues of the day for purposeful discussion within the confines of the academe, but occasionally bringing his expertise to the arena where lawyers thrive best: the courts. Stalking Joc-Joc Bolante and his billions, Harry might just bring back Joc-Joc one of these days.

5. He must not run only to win at all costs; conversely, winning must be secondary to his bringing the issues to the people. There is always a downside to trying very hard to win: The candidate gets sidetracked from the issues, and very soon he would do everything to win, including cheating. Tito Sotto knows the issues; he knows he can win any election, that is why he concentrates on the issues. Besides, his closeness to the late FPJ makes him a walking, living reminder to the people of how an election was stolen from them.

6. He must articulate well the concerns of the people; his tongue must be consistent with his head. Kit Tatad is on top of the heap in this category. A non-lawyer, Kit can put to shame any lawyer debating with him on constitutional issues. Every issue that confronts the nation now revolves around the Constitution, and with Kit back, the Senate would be reprising the intellectual reigns of Salonga, Maceda and Angara following the Edsa revolution.

7. He must bring a new radiance to the cause of the opposition; equally, his consistency to the cause must be rewarded. There are many stars out there, who live, write, speak, and think opposition, but whose brilliance are wasted in the political firmament because they do not have the wherewithal to wage a decent campaign or who are victims to the selfishness of old fogies in the opposition. Erap and Angara should go over the long list of those who are waiting for that one big break in order to come shining through.

We could have a Senate in the Fourteenth Congress that could deliver the two-thirds vote to convict a president in an impeachment proceeding, and which will finally measure up to its original appellation as a Council of Wise Men, wise to the ways of a legislature that abhors corruption, gives wise counsel to the executive, and wisely enacts laws for the good of the Filipino people.

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