But I was reminded yesterday that politicians arent supposed to head the Commission on Elections. The reason: since the Comelec must decide on highly partisan matters, its chairman must be non-partisan. Wasnt this why a former congressman a relative of a former president could not be appointed to the Comelec?
Maybe Benjamin Abalos, when he headed the Metro Manila Development Authority, could be classified as an ex-politician. Okay, so what about ex-politicians with children in politics? Can they head the Comelec? Abalos son Benhur, following in the fathers footsteps, is mayor of Mandaluyong City.
I dont know Abalos personally and I have nothing against him, and I would go for anything that would end that disgraceful circus at the Comelec. (So sorry for Alfredo Benipayo, but hey, he may get a seat in the Supreme Court.) I just want to remind everyone that politicians active, retired, planning a comeback attract political flak.
Thats just for starters. We havent even heard yet from the "coup pals" at the Comelec led by Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco. Now that theyve seen the spectacular results of their coup, what might they have in store for Abalos?
I dont know if Malacañang was caught flat-footed by that coup of sorts, or if President Arroyo deliberately omitted issuing a new appointment to Benipayo so she could name a replacement. Some Palace factotums are letting on that Benipayo himself wanted out (cant blame him). But dont be surprised if Tancangco and her gang claim victory.
Also, which institution has not been politicized in this country? Even the Supreme Court has become tainted with politics in the wake of EDSA Dos.
Candidates for public office who are perceived as non-traditional politicians end up looking, sounding and walking like traditional politicians once they are elected. Soon they are singing the virtues of "pork" and even joining the regular brawls over the Countrywide Development Fund, or whatever is the latest euphemism politicians have concocted for the congressional pork barrel. Theres no escaping death, taxes and politics in this country.
His main concern was not the House of Representatives but the Senate, where lawmakers are trying to work out their differences before Congress resumes session next month.
Lakas, the administration party, is wooing some opposition members to break the impasse at the Senate, De Venecia reiterated. It was the only way, he said. Some Lakas senators gave hints yesterday of what was being cooked up: a power-sharing scheme under which several opposition senators would get choice committee chairmanships.
You may not like De Venecias style, but you have to admit he has a practical, realistic view of Philippine society. It can be depressing when you consider that view a feudal land of trapos, warlords and the rich elite, whose main concern when it comes to politics can be summed up in one question: Whats in it for me?
By providing a satisfactory answer to that question, De Venecia keeps House members in line. Of course there were a handful of lawmakers who staged a House rump session in sympathy with the opposition in the Senate, but the congressmen came off looking like clowns.
Can horse-trading save the day for the Senate? Of course it can. Everything eventually gets settled in that circus if the price is right.
Our founding fathers botched even our proclamation of independence, whose 104th anniversary were celebrating today. After that declaration, revolutionary President Emilio Aguinaldo spent time trying to convince the world that the Filipino deserved independence. Meanwhile, members of the Philippine elite were one by one starting to pay allegiance to the new colonizers, whose superior armada had just sunk the entire Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. The earliest converts to Uncle Sam probably thought those were mean guns trained on Manila by the American fleet commanded by George Dewey.
Poor Aguinaldo was not defeated in battle, but was caught when his people withdrew support from him and embraced the American way.
One day we may have to pick another date for celebrating Independence Day. We get confused early in grade school, when were told that Aguinaldo declared independence shortly before Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States. After World War II the Americans declared Philippine independence but kept us under their security umbrella for nearly five decades. GI Joe finally left in 1992 but now hes back, and it looks like hes here to stay a long time.
There will be no lack of reminders today that were celebrating the Declaration of Independence with 1,000 American troops deployed in Mindanao. Were again depending on Uncle Sam for national defense. Theres nothing wrong with having allies, and I think most Filipinos will choose the United States over the forces of terrorism. But you wonder why, more than a hundred years after declaring independence, we still cant stand on our own feet.
There are many reasons for this, and we know at least one of them. This is what we get when we expend an inordinate amount of time and energy on politicking.