A Senator, a Road Project, a Committee of the Whole

by: ART UMBAC

“What is happening to our Senate?” A friend asked. He was, of course, referring to recent developments where that august body has been feasting on the carcass of a potential political powder keg called the C-5 – a road extension project in the Paranaque-Las Pinas areas south of Manila.

The controversy has attained a high profile complexion in view of the alleged involvement of former Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr. – now the official candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP) for President of the Republic.

The Senate had constituted itself Committee of the Whole to investigate the matter. Soon thereafter, the investigating body became very frustrated when Senator Villar refused to attend its hearings to answer the allegations levelled against him and to defend himself. Instead the fish vendor-turnedbillionaire went directly to the people to explain his side over and over again. He had nothing to hide.

Why did this former President of the Senate refuse to honor the summons of the institution he once headed? For very good and valid reasons as we can see.

The Senate has been highly politicized along partisan lines with many presidentiables in its ranks. Add to this a reputation which that august body has established for itself.

It is a sad commentary, to say the least, that the Senate in many past investigations (In aid of legislation?), figured itself in some of the most scary proceedings in the annals of congressional inquiry. Remember ZTE and the Fertilizer scam? Many of those called upon to testify in the investigations were subjected to indignities and humiliation by over-zealous legislators. And on camera at that!

That Senator Villar would never allow this kind of treatment from his peers in the Senate is understandable. He told Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo – who adviced him to attend the hearings and defend himself – that he fears the insults from his peers, saying “Baka bastusin lang ako diyan. Ayokong mangyari ‘yon.” He feels that he could not get justice from his peers in the Senate many of whom have no qualms in acting as his accusers, prosecutors, judges, and executors – all rolled into one collective lethal weapon of political destruction.

Last February 3, the Senator appeared before the Senate plenary to declare “his innocence from allegations that he benefited from the C- 5 Road extension project”, saying – “I’ve done nothing wrong. There’s no anomaly in the C-5 project. From the start I’ve said this is all politics. I have been pilloried with a lot of charges as a result of my declaration as presidential candidate. I have not stolen money from the public coffers and I do not intend to steal. Whatever station in life I am now, whatever I am earning now, is a product of hard work, sweat and industry.” He left the chamber after his privilege speech refusing to be interpolated.

Back to the question: what is happening to the Senate? This case in point. Last January 25 the session of the so-called august body of so-called honourable men and women deteriorated into trash talk and gutter exchange of barbs so alien to an institution of our government where proper decorum and refined language are inviolable.

Consider this scene in the Senate on that day of days. A woman senator had – without let-up – continued her tirade against Senator Villar calling him a “coward” apart from the other statements she made which did not help any the already unparliamentary and unlady-likecharged atmosphere. To add to the garbage of the day a veteran senator sunk to the rock-bottom of his persona when he touched on a very personal, very delicate, very private matter vis-a-vis a newly married colleague. Wanting to be witty and/or funny he ended up a disgrace to the position for which we elected him.