Bowing out gracefully

>> Monday, July 6, 2009

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March Fianza

Those who voted for House Resolution 1109 which calls upon members of Congress to convene as a constituent assembly for the purpose of amending or revising the constitution have already said as much to justify their move, still that was not enough to stop people from being suspicious.

The congressmen led by Speaker Nograles even “promised” to abide by at least four conditions that they wrote in their covenant but even that is doubtful. The conditions are – (1) the term of office of the incumbent President and Vice-President shall not be extended; (2) the term of office of senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and other elected officials whose terms of office all end in 2010 shall not be extended; (3) the term of office of the 12 Senators who were elected in 2007 for a six-year term ending in 2013 shall not be shortened and so they shall be allowed to finish their terms; and (4) elections will push through in 2010.

Whoever believes that the lawmakers will stand by their word has a brain as faulty. These conditions are not binding, according to some congressmen allied with the administration. Nothing is new here as there were already hundreds of resolutions and House Bills with “binding” conditions that were broken in the past.

And also, there are some congressmen allied with the administration who voted for the measure. Their reasons for signing the covenant are tied only to the fact that they are after the pork barrel that they will distribute in their respective districts. One of them said he was being practical. But, what is there to being practical when the principle is lost?

Aside from those who were against it, there are also some legislators who do not think that HR 1109 will push through, especially without the senate. They are not sold to the “magic” of Nograles because they are well aware that Congress is made up of two distinct and separate chambers, and each chamber must first approve a resolution calling its respective Members to convene as a constituent assembly. Then and only then can they propose amendments and revisions to the Constitution

The more compelling reason why a majority of the administration’s allies voted for HR 1109 was that they, contrary to the conditions, want to stay in power beyond their term and signing it was the surest way to being just that. Unless they are eyeing other elective positions in their home provinces or cities, bowing out nicely after their term is not in their agenda.

On the other side, there are other public servants who are already on a hush-hush campaign but who have yet to resign. Nothing in our laws prohibit that except the conscience – if they still have a little of it left… uray bassit laeng.

I am thinking about GMA’s cabinet men who have plans to run for senator, congressman, governor or mayor. They too should resign their appointive positions because they are practically campaigning and spending government funds – two legitimate acts that can not exist without the other.

Early unofficial political campaigning as a personal venture is alright. The same is true with doing one’s duty of implementing a project and spending government funds for it. But secretly campaigning disguised by the act of implementing programs with peoples’ taxes is no longer right. Better to do both things openly – walang pasikre-sikreto.

It is enough that the ‘Edsa’ kind of democracy gave our present leaders the chance to manage the government. But to let them continue governing this country through tricky means will not work this time – unless we will allow ourselves to be cheated once more.

It is time to give way and bow out gracefully. Genuine leaders should know how to relinquish power.

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