EDITORIAL - Politics as usual

Ordinary folks couldn’t care less who heads the two chambers of Congress. Power plays and backstabbing are so chronic in the two chambers that even the most accomplished wheeler-dealer can be ousted any time.

What causes concern is when the political intramurals affect national interest. Yesterday, power play in the House of Representatives stalled the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which Malacañang had hoped President Duterte could sign in time for his third State of the Nation Address or SONA.

The ratification was stalled at the House because the camp of Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez got wind of plans to unseat him as speaker, with Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be installed as his replacement. The House session was abruptly adjourned at around noon. The former president, now much recovered since her days of wearing a neck brace and sitting in a wheelchair while under “hospital arrest” on charges of plunder, had previously denied being interested in the speaker’s post.

Until early last night, efforts to unseat Alvarez continued, with Arroyo getting at least 161 congressmen to sign a petition installing her as speaker. Before Duterte’s SONA, the public address system at the Batasang Pambansa was switched off, forcing Arroyo to shout at her supporters following her “oath-taking.” There were unconfirmed reports of the speaker’s mace being spirited away.

The public would probably find it entertaining if the feuding camps would hurl chairs at each other or engage in fisticuffs, as in the legislative chambers of certain countries. What is not amusing is when the feuding derails programs and projects.

Proponents and supporters of the Bangsamoro Organic Law had looked forward to its ratification yesterday and enactment by the President. Now the BOL will have to wait a few more days as the President said he needed about 48 hours to comb through the final version, saying he wanted to make sure there were no last-minute insertions by lawmakers that he might not like. The statement sounded like a half-joke.

He did not mention the House infighting as he stuck to his prepared speech. Undoubtedly, however, the President would want his political allies to make sure that their feuds would not derail his legislative agenda as he starts his third year in power.

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