This time it’s Joker vs Digs

Even with the one-week delay caused by constant debates over the rules governing the canvassing of votes, lawmakers have gone from nit-picking over procedures down to being trivial.

Opposition lawmaker Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen figured in another verbal tussle, this time with administration Sen. Joker Arroyo.

Their heated exchange of words in the plenary joint session of Congress late yesterday afternoon resulted in the delay of the canvassing by almost two hours.

Despite the antics on the Congress floor, however, the 22-member committee finished opening more ballot boxes containing certificates of canvass yesterday, bringing the total to 77. Last Monday, 24 ballot boxes containing tabulations of overseas votes were opened.

Arroyo earlier took the floor to remind his colleagues to abide by the "formal agreement" late Monday that certificates of canvass (COCs) with less than 2,000 votes should be opened without the necessary observation.

But what caught the ire of Dilangalen was Arroyo’s mentioning the media, citing as reason the fact that the proceedings are being aired live on national television. "We should heed the call of the public," Arroyo said.

The Maguindanao lawmaker then took his turn on the floor, asking Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. in the presiding joint panel to clarify Arroyo’s statements.

"Mr. Speaker, why is it that everytime Mr. Arroyo speaks up, he mentions TV and radio? Nagpapapogi ba si Mr. Arroyo?" Dilangalen blurted out in his signature high-pitched tone.

Arroyo wanted to answer back but he was reportedly prevailed upon by his colleagues not to do so. "Huwag mo na patulan iyan," one of the lawmakers said to the senator.

Dilangalen went on to claim he was not a party to the late Monday ruling mentioned by Arroyo, since it was only the senators who made the agreement that COCs of less than 2,000 will not be exhaustively scrutinized to save time.

The Maguindanao lawmaker has been strict in the observation of the COCs, focusing on its physical appearance down to the condition of the staple wires used in bunching the election documents.

Preparing for a continued verbal tussle with the senator, Dilangalen was frustrated when Arroyo refused to budge from his seat and merely shook his head.

Then sensing that most of the congressmen were not around to witness his latest tantrum, Dilangalen promptly questioned the quorum.

This forced De Venecia to suspend the session and call for a head count.

A roll call showed that 133 of the 226 congressmen showed up on the floor, thereby mustering a quorum.

It was a raucous start for Congress when it tried since last week to proceed with the canvassing in the quickest possible time.

Congress opened its first joint session last week with Dilangalen stepping up his attack, trying to block the adoption of the canvass rules.

The Maguindanao lawmaker led the opposition in pointing out perceived technicalities and questions on the constitutionality of the canvassing rules.

Dilangalen and his allies in the opposition wanted the whole plenary of Congress to count the votes instead of a committee.

The rules which were approved last Friday were basically adopted from the canvassing and proclamation of the winners in the 1992 and 1998 presidential elections.

Dilangalen went on his attacks by accusing the administration lawmakers of covering up the alleged electoral cheating to make it appear that President Arroyo won the elections.

He figured in several debates on the issues which triggered verbal matches with other lawmakers as well as private citizens in the gallery watching the spectacle.

Dilangalen was central in the now famous incident last Wednesday when he was handed a note by a lady spectator telling him to "shut up."

Dilangalen went ballistic over the note and called on the House leaders to cite the note giver, Suzette Pido, for contempt and incarcerate her indefinitely until she apologizes.

He figured in a verbal tussle with Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez, repeatedly shouting "shut up" while Gonzalez was presiding over the joint session last week along with Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier.

The angry Gonzalez nearly ordered Dilangalen to be bodily hauled out from the session hall.

Dilangalen earned the monicker "Delaying Dilangalen" because of his efforts.

Yesterday’s session also turned trivial when Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel Zamora offered to physically haul the ballot boxes himself to the table located in the center of the session hall.

Zamora said he was "too sleepy" and it would help him wake up if he was allowed to carry the metal boxes.

"If you insist," an amused De Venecia said.

But again Dilangalen raised his voice and interrupted the proceedings.

"Do we have a counterpart from the Senate," he asked, but De Venecia cut him short by saying: "He (Zamora) decided to carry the burden of the Senate."