AS SEEN ON TV
Roll Calls
The senate inquiry into early campaigning and political propaganda using government agency resources entered the second week with a belligerent Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago giving some top government honchos a mouthful. She has every reason to tongue lash, both as a senator and a tax payer.
Spending government agency money to promote tasks, achievements and personalities is “closer to the gut” than you think. Government agencies should not even consider spending for advertising. Not when there are thousands of classrooms needing repair. Not when the country’s government hospitals remain ill-equipped. Not when majority of Filipinos don’t even own homes yet.
During the initial hearing, we’ve all heard figures in the millions used to promote accomplishments and heads of government agencies. Such towering amounts spend on self promotion sounded unreal for a poor nation. The hearings happened at about the time the lavish presidential dinners were hogging the headlines so Filipinos are really “sensi” and “emo” over misspent government resources.
I really hope Senator Santiago takes her cause beyond punch lines and theatrics. If the hearings were to aid in legislation, I am looking forward to a Philippines that spends its scanty resources astutely because the law punishes those who promote themselves at our expense.
* * * *
Nueva Ecija Representative Eduardo Joson was not as lucky in his quest for accountability and performance at the lower house. His proposal to deny absentee congressmen of pork barrel was shot down on sight by House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who thinks the punishment is not commensurate to the offense.
I know where Representative Joson was coming from. It is difficult to reach a quorum during house sessions these days when only a few congressmen show up for work. Joson said stringent measures need to be taken to enforce attendance at the house and by the looks of it “hostaging” pork may be a good way to do this.
But then again it has been an uphill battle from the start, with Joson actually proposing something unpopular. It is like asking congressmen to accept the possibility of losing their pork if they do not attend sessions. And for many congressmen, making that promise is hard. Not on election season.
Pork in itself can also being (ab)used as a campaign kitty. More than any other year, some congressmen need theirs badly now. That’s P 70M they’re not willing to lose on a technicality.
* * * *
Absenteeism at the house of representatives in the run up to the elections is expected. Even House Speaker Prospero Nograles admits that it has been difficult to reach a quorum since sessions resumed last July 27. He also expects more “no show” congressmen as campaign period kicks off in 2 months. That’s why he’s pressing the assembly to fast track vital bills before this happens.
Amazingly, our lawmakers are still getting things done even if many have already switched to campaign mode. The past two weeks saw some of our hardworking senators and congressmen working longer hours.
I salute our congressmen for finally inking the Child Pornography Bill. The fact that it was unanimously approved means they all think it is important that we prosecute and penalize pedophiles, pornographers and cyber sex den operators that victimize our children. Now the real work begins.
The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights also approved a landmark measure that would penalize enforced or involuntary disappearance, which is in tandem with the Anti Torture Bill.
The Anti Involuntary Disappearance Bill, to be sponsored by Senator Chiz Escudero defines the crime of enforced or involuntary disappearance as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty committed by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State.
Both the Anti Involuntary Disappearance and Anti Torture Bills seek to address the abuse of State power and tilts the balance in favor of human rights. The measure also prohibits the issuance of “Orders of Battle,” (official or otherwise) by the military, police or any law enforcement agency to justify an enforced or involuntary disappearance.
(Comments are welcome. Please e-mail stanley.palisada@gmail.com)