EDITORIAL - The Senate, through wind and high water

Even if the recent floods only hit Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon, the sheer magnitude of the calamity makes it a national tragedy. As leader of the country, President Aquino therefore has every right to make the rounds of the affected areas.

But why does Aquino have to keep in tow Joel Villanueva, Ruffy Biazon and Risa Hontiveros during these visits when they have absolutely nothing to do with what needs to be done regarding the calamity?

Villanueva may be the head of Tesda while Biazon may be the top gun at Customs, but these are agencies that have nothing immediate to contribute to alleviate the situation. Hontiveros is not even in government, yet her presence gives the impression she is doing some vital function.

If Jesse Robredo, Mar Roxas, Jesus Singson and other Cabinet officials have to tag along with the president, at least they head departments whose functions fulfill specific needs of the times. It is in fact important that they accompany Aquino in case snap decisions need to be made.

But the only reason anyone can imagine why Villanueva, Biazon and Hontiveros are always with Aquino is because all three are angling for the Senate in 2013 and need to be as exposed to the public as much as they possibly can.

Yet while it is easy to see the need for public exposure, it is difficult to understand why they cannot temporarily shelve their “early campaigning” at this time of great tragedy. It is grossly insensitive for them to do their politicking at the expense of the suffering of others.

Why, Hontiveros cannot even take it upon herself to have the good taste to at least wear some other color during these visits to calamity areas instead of the patented yellow that cannot but lend political color to what otherwise should have been a humanitarian crisis mission.

Are Hontiveros, Villanueva and Biazon so obsessed with getting elected to the Senate that they cannot even respect the sensibilities of people in deep suffering? Can they not even wait until the floods subside and people regain their lives before they start campaigning again?

Of course, Hontiveros, Biazon and Villanueva can all claim personal commiseration with the plight of the victims, hence their presence at these activities. But all things being equal, people who know better can also tell them to go and tell that to the marines.