| DIE HARD III |
 |
| Herman Tiu Laurel |
03/16/2012
Last Monday the nation was witness to a rare display of integrity from
a member of Congress. In the eyes of many, Navotas City Rep. Tobias
“Toby” Tiangco became a shining example of how an elected official — who
swore fealty to the Constitution — should behave in the exercise of his
duties.
The Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice (CJ)
Renato Corona were rammed by the leaders of the congressional majority
into the faces of their fellow legislators without giving them the time
to read through the documents before affixing their signatures. It was,
from all accounts, a gross violation of the basic rule of verification
involving documents sworn before the law.
For refusing to be part
of that travesty, Toby became the symbol of congressional integrity — a
trait that is sorely lacking nowadays. Even though some of his
colleagues, such as Reps. Boying Remulla and Hermilando Mandanas, also
refused succumb to Malacañang’s pressure-tactics, when the challenge
came to voluntarily put the truth on record in the Senate, only Toby
rose to the occasion, with the others simply copping out by seeking
Senate subpoenas that were never to come. Through it all, Toby did not
shirk from his duty to the Constitution and the nation.
At the
other end of the pole, stuck in the mud of trapo politics is a
congressman from the lair of some of the most notorious political
personalities this country has ever seen — the city of Mandaluyong. Rep.
Neptali Gonzales II is a member of one of two political clans that have
controlled that city’s politics. The Gonzaleses and Abaloses have, for
quite some time, alternated for control of the congressional and
mayoralty seats to perpetuate themselves in power.
These two
political families are, in fact, among the most yellow of the Yellows.
Tracing their roots to the Yellow armies of Edsa I and II vintage, they
are believed to be the most sanctimonious yet the epitome of trapo
politics.
Even before Toby Tiangco set foot in the Senate, Neptali
Gonzales II, in no uncertain terms, already threatened him with
expulsion if he were to push through with it — something that the
principled Navoteño readily defied.
What gall, indeed, for this
Yellow congressman from Mandaluyong to threaten another elected
representative of the people. The power that comes with his position as
House majority leader must have so gotten into his head that he now
throws his weight around with abandon, just as the “supreme” power over
impeachment has gone to the heads of some senator-judges cum
prosecutors, who simply brush aside all pretenses of impartiality in
browbeating witnesses and defense lawyers while refusing to inhibit when
openly chastised by the public.
The likes of Gonzales represent a
majority of the politicians prevailing in our corrupt political system
while Toby is just the one whom most of our suffering people can pin
their hopes on.
Tiangco is, in fact, among the rare breed of
political leaders who have dared raise the power issue when, in the
halls of Congress, he asked why power consumers are paying a value added
tax (VAT) on “systems losses.” Dina Abad, in contrast, merely sat on
her cushy seat as chairman of the House energy committee and did
nothing.
Similarly, the so-called young House prosecutors at the
forefront of the botched impeachment case, such as Niel Tupas, Erin
Tañada, Miro Quimbo, Bolet Banal, et. al, have proven themselves to have
kowtowed to Malacañang. By executing illegal orders in behalf of their
Palace patron, they have readily violated the sacrosanct separation of
powers; prostituted themselves for their slice of the pork barrel;
trampled upon constitutional rules and the Rules of Court just to adopt
patently illegal House rules on impeachment and verification, thereby
trampling upon the rights of the accused; and conspired to obtain
information illegally.
But trapo politics cuts across generations.
These young trapos have surely learned well from their forebears, who
are themselves getting their well-deserved rewards. To wit, the
following lucrative posts were recently handed: For the elder Tañada,
the chairmanship of the group of United Coconut Planters Bank, Coconut
Industry Investment Fund, et. al; for a former Quezon City councilor
said to have operated several sauna bath joints in Cubao during his
incumbency, membership in the board of Poro Point Management Corp.; and
for the extremely lucky Tupases, a Philippine National Oil Co. post for
the father and a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board seat for
the sister.
Clearly, as these appointees do not bring anything new
to the table, it is all plain nepotism. But as such is the rule of
success in Yellow society and politics, can they all be expected to have
any shame?
Fortunately, despite this culture of corruption,
Filipinos can still celebrate whenever there are leaders who rise above
the mire by becoming shining examples of integrity in government.
So
we ask: Is Neptali Gonzales II going to make good his threat of
expelling Toby Tiangco from the House? Let’s see him try and invite a
good skewering from the public. Tiangco’s Senate appearance right after
Gonzales’ shameless threat is without doubt a gauntlet across the
majority floor leader’s cheek. As Toby is sure to not back down, we
should let the good congressman know that we are all rooting for him in
his fight for decency and integrity in the Lower House.
(Tune in
to 1098AM, dwAD, Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday to Friday, 5 to 6
p.m.; watch Destiny Cable GNN’s HTL edition of Talk News TV, Saturdays,
8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11:15 p.m., on “Mindanao power crisis
and Epira;” visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles
plus TV and radio archives)
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL:
http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120316com4.html
