The Senate, Senator Villar, and the 2010 elections

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | No Comments

Last year the Senate by a majority vote of 12 members signed a resolution absolving Senator Villar of unethical conduct as alleged by his accusers in the Senate.

Then now, suddenly, Senate President Enrile as chairman of the Senate committee of the whole, drafted a report recommending the censure of Villar and asking him to reimburse the Government of P6 billion plus. This report is still being debated, in the adsence of Senator Villar. .

It takes a 2/3 vote of Villar’s peers to find him liable to censure. Meanwhile, Senator Santiago has raised the issue of what standards should be used for a finding of liability for censure. In a court case, as we know, guilt beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of justice.

In fairness maybe we should not rush to judgment. If Villar were not a serious candidate who could overcome the lead of Senator Aquino and be elected President in May, his rivals, opponents, and detractors in the Senate would not be so worked up as they are. Senator Pangilinan admits that his change of heart and vote on the issue was in accordance with the Liberal Party line.

The senators are politicians–some of them presidential or vice-presidential candidates, or reelectionists. They are performing their roles and also playing to the court of public opinion in which partisan media, religious leaders and big business are among the active players. The Enrile report is calculated to damage Villar’s candidacy fatally. But it could gain him more public sympathy. We don’t know exactly how either way.

One cannot obtain justice in a political court consisting of rival candidates for president and their partisans. So we will have to leave it to the citizens to decide who is worthy of election as President.

In his own perilous time, Ninoy Aquino refused to defend himself before what he regarded as a kangaroo military court, that finally found him guilty as charged and to face a firing squad.

My colleagues in the U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance know how much I admire President Corazon Aquino and Senator Ninoy, our martyr. I have proposed that our building be named after Presidente Cory Aquino. For several years I served on the Board of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to honor the martyrs and heroes during the Marcos dictatorship.

I shall also comment on Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Richard Gordon, and Senator Noynoy Aquino.

from the email of Pepe Abueva
Global Filipinos

Comments