EDITORIAL — The invisible dance

So many things have been said, pro and con, regarding the abolition of the Death Penalty Law but nothing has been said about the probable reasons why the House of Representatives and the Senate, which are often at loggerheads, suddenly saw eye to eye on the issue.

Approval of abolition in the House was expected. It is dominated by allies of the president who publicly insists she is against the death penalty, kay " devout Catholic " kuno, as if adherence to the Fifth Commandment condones palpable violations of many of the other nine.

Approval in the Senate was much more difficult. It is littered with enemies of the president. Her allies, on the other hand, have the uncanny notion that political independence comes in the form of critical media comments. Nevertheless, the Senate too went for abolition.

The issue is serious, but the storm it whipped has become so emotionally charged it is turning silly. One ridiculous suggestion even seeks restitution for the death of rapist Leo Echegaray, whose misfortune it was to be executed before God revealed Himself to the president.

The focus on Echegaray has distracted the nation from the probable reasons for the uncanny solidarity among the House, the Senate and the president, something that just is not supposed to be written in the stars of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

There is a need to find out the probable reasons for this clear accommodation because, as they say in politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. More importantly, there is a need to find out who benefits from these reasons.

So, forget about Echegaray. He cannot be brought to life no matter where the debates will go and regardless of whether restitution is paid or not. Besides, the issue about him is probably a red herring cleverly thrown at the expense of his poor memory.

The real question that begs for an answer is who gets to benefit from the abolition of the death penalty. And if someone gets to benefit from the abolition, at what price to everyone involved is the accommodation? Finally, at whose expense is this all coming about?