'Sleeping with the enemy'

This idiom best describes the tv footage of Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal - "Jamby" for short - cozily bonding with communist top guns Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Obviously Jamby's presence in Utrecht to meet Sison and Jalandoni was not just to strike up or renew social ties. Her self-imposed mission was to negotiate on her own with both rebel leaders on the aborted peace talks between the Philippine Government (GRP) and the CPP-NDF-NPA.

In fact, the trio signed a communiqué blaming, inter alia, GMA for the collapse of the peace talks with her recent all-out war against the insurgency. Such premise is misleading because the peace talks had long collapsed on the unilateral withdrawal of Sison/Jalandoni when GMA was beleaguered with the "Garci" tapes. Meantime, Sison was then vocal in ordering the NPA to resume active armed operations against the military and the police.

The pivotal question is: Was Senator Madrigal authorized by the state or the Philippine government to speak for and represent the state, and negotiate with said state's enemies?

The answer is that the skittishly irrepressible Jamby did so on her own in foisting by her lonesome, to speak for and bind the Philippines with that communiqué with the CPP-NDF-NPA honchos. How irresponsible, asinine, and unsenatorial of Jamby not to realize the legal parameters of her being an "honorable" senator of the land! Her self-touted communiqué with enemies of the state, however well-intentioned, is legally treasonous, albeit being picayunish and amateurish as well.

In hindsight, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales' Venable contract indiscretion even pales in comparison to Jamby's stupendous blunder.

Thus, Malacañang didn't mince words in crucifying the lady solon for "consorting with the enemy" and for "betrayal of the trust given to her... as an elected public official"; and, calling on the Justice department to study possible legal action for treason. On his own, DOJ Secretary Gonzales also calls on the Senate to investigate the transgression of Senator Madrigal.

In his column "Postscript" (Phil. Star, July 4, 2006), Federico Pascual Jr. advises: "Jamby should grow up and stop playing footsie". His advice bitingly adds: "Jamby should not have been in the Senate. Senators worthy of the office are cast from sterling silver, not from cheap copper".

Say, could Jamby be related to that stately late Senator Pacita Madrigal Warns as a missed source of inspiration? Or, from other staid and ideal models who once graced the Senate halls, the likes of Helena Benitez, Leticia Shahani, Santanina Rasul, Eva Kalaw, Loren Legarda, et al., Jamby could have picked a lesson or two on senatorial ethics and behavior.

But then, these lady senators as role models became regal senators at the right age and time and, on their own merit. They didn't get there holding on the skirt or the belt line of the jeans of actress Judy Ann Santos. No wonder, with different culture, perhaps, they didn't have to make a national issue out of a felled old tree. Or holding hands with old "trapos" and militant leftists only to cry when hosed down. Or acting censurious with disrespect, to helpless resource persons in Senate inquisitions. Or bawling in tears after tangling with a grizzled and wise veteran Ponce Enrile, among other juvenile capers.

What's worst is that upon her return from Utrecht, instead of a humbling "mea culpa et apologia", Jamby resorted to "argumentum ad hominem" against GMA as allegedly trying to suppress the "katotohanan" inre her Utrecht misadventure. What "truth" did Jamby dream from her perfidious sleeping with the enemy?