What makes these people think they are senatoriable?
With all due respect, as a citizen of this republic, and as a voter, I believe it is my perfect right to inquire what are the qualifications of certain people that I do not know, in aspiring to become honorable members of the august upper chamber of Congress. I refer particularly to some candidates like Alma Moreno of UNA, Edu Manzano of Galing at Puso, Manny Pacquiao of UNA, and this person called Nariman Ambolodto of the Liberal Party? Who are they and what makes them ready to become senators? What are their competencies and track record?
By ''qualifications'' I do not refer to Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution that only requires each candidate to be a natural-born citizen, 35 years of age, able to read and write, and has resided for the last two years immediately prior to the election. By ''qualifications," I mean do they know the meaning of separation of powers, the principle of checks and balances, the rules on parliamentary procedures, the steps by which a bill becomes a law. I do not wish to insult these people but I just want to be very sure. Every bet must accept a public scrutiny. They have the onus to prove that they deserve our vote.
I am already convinced that Isko Moreno may have the fundamentals in parliamentary processes, and that Tito Sotto has already proven himself in the Senate. After all, he is not just EAT BULAGA but a scion of the great Don Vicente Sotto and Don Filemon Sotto. On the other hand, what has Alma Moreno done as a Parañaque councilor to make her think that she can jump to the Philippine Senate ahead of Joey Marquez? What has Edu Manzano done as former vice mayor of Makati that makes him ready now for the august halls of the Senate? And Manny Pacquiao may be the best Filipino boxer of all time. He may be the best Letran College basketball team manager ever. But is he really a senatoriable?
Manny Pacquiao was absent 95 percent of all the session days in the House? If he could not make it there, what makes him ready here in the senate? What will he tell us now that will assure us that he will improve his attendance record? He may be the richest member of the House of Representatives, and he may be a born-again Christian. But what legislative track record can he present in order to convince the conscientious and serious voters of this country that he is ready for the Chamber of the Rectos, the Tañadas, the Dioknos, Salongas, Tolentinos (not Francis but Arturo), the Manglapuses, and Soc Rodrigos?
We have had enough of Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Sr, Bong Revilla, Sonny Jaworski, Jinggoy Estrada, and many more. And there are many good candidates like Richard Gordon, Raffy Alunan, Risa Hontiveros, Toots Ople, Lorna Kapunan, Allan Montano, Neric Colmenares, and Dante Jimenez. This is the Senate that will ratify treaties, comprise the Commission of Appointments, the Senate Electoral Tribunal, pass the budget, along with the House. In case both the President and the vice president die, a senator can rise to the presidency by succession. So, do we want Alma Moreno to become president?
This is not the student council of a far-flung high school academy. My God, this is the Senate. If we do not screen the candidates well, we will end up having senators who cannot even qualify as section chiefs in some micro enterprises. Knowing how to read and write should not be taken literally. The Filipinos deserve a Senate with high caliber senators, Filipinos whom we can truly be proud of, and cannot sneer upon or be embarrassed about. We need to take this election seriously, or else we shall wake up one day being ruled by people we cannot respect. Pity.
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