An exciting week started with the privilege speech of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. He was once a promising politician but I am afraid that somehow somewhere his ambition to become Vice-President or at least Secretary of Foreign Affairs overtook his intelligence. He didn't really say anything we didn't know yet, because 'The Superficial Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines' keeps us posted on the subjects he addressed. Everybody is damaging the image of the Philippines except of course the President and his lapdogs.
The most exciting moment of his speech was when his colleague Senator Leila de Lima left the Senate floor because she couldn't stand it any longer. De Lima will probably experience this week as exciting too.
First of all newbie senator Pacquiao delivered his first ever blow in the Senate by winning by split decision (16-4) the chair of the committee for Justice and Human Rights, that a few minutes later was given to senator Richard Gordon (The Red Cross is always near when there is trouble). Of course there is no way Pacquiao could have come up with this bright idea, the first time ousting of a Committee chairperson in the history of the Senate, by himself. Let's say that -in this case- he was a 'coached senator'. Former Senate president Drilon did give it a try by stating there was no Senate rule to oust a Committee chairperson, but he failed. The Senate makes the rules it needs when it needs them. Oh, and by the way, you might have noticed that the opposition is almost totally silenced. No more debate, now tiresome questions for the President. Full support. They don't have a choice anyway, because the President already expressed that he doesn't want them to get in his way.
While I am writing this, Senator De Lima is most likely preparing the privilege speech she will deliver tomorrow (September 20th). Not that this speech is going to make much of a difference, but it will be exciting to listen to it I guess. The woman is fighting for her honor and life now she's a High Value Target in the 'war' against illegal drugs and corruption. A perfect example of character assassination has been showcased. She's already dead and buried before a court of justice has said one word about her 'case'.
At the same time tomorrow the House of Representatives will start the probe into De Lima's alleged ties to drugs lords. Secretary Aguirre II is eager to present the most trustworthy witnesses he could find, two famous drug lords. He says he has enough complaints about De Lima to assume probable cause and file a case against her in the only place it should be filed, the Office of the Ombudsman. Yet he didn't file that case there. First the public trial and conviction has to done. Both the Senate and the House in the Philippine enjoy very much playing court of justice in aid of legislation. Too many lawyers there I guess.
Now the media, also accused of destroying the reputation of the Philippines in the world will have to make a difficult choice. De Lima or The House? But anyway, it will be about De Lima.
Meanwhile, the President, who started all the fuzz about De Lima, keeps surprisingly quiet at the moment. His work apparently is done. His vassals took over.
I admire Senator De Lima's fighting spirit until now and I can only hope that she's totally clean. The case against her seems not to be very strong. Attorney Abelardo de Jesus (what's in a name?) even considered it necessary to add 'immorality' to his charges at five minutes before twelve. That says enough.
To be Continued..........
