Every time a senator opens his mouth during discussions on certain issues, he is not speaking for himself but for the Filipino people, you and me.
Reports show that 99.93 percent of 2,751 social media accounts gave negative reactions to Sen. Bong Revilla’s privilege speech on Monday, June 9.
Revilla, along with several other accused who are now facing charges before the Sandiganbayan, attributed the charges as “politically motivated”.
Was the privilege speech — with music video — delivered by Senator Revilla proper and fitting for the august Senate floor? Did it serve any public purpose?
Do Senators really know the meaning and purpose of being the country’s Senator? Or are they confusing their roles with being in the movies?
The negative reactions came from the citizens. But one wonders if that privilege speech with music video was aimed at free publicity with the majority — the masa — as the targeted audience?
Was that a calculated ploy to portray himself as the victim? Do the masa comprehend the inanities and intricacies of what is expected, or the behavior of a senator?
This is why people fondly remember the late comedian Dolphy. When asked why he was not running for any Senate seat, his answer: “To win, no problem [because] I have many fans. But what will I do in the Senate?”
Words of wisdom indeed for it seems that there are some Senators who are clueless about the nobility and dignity of their job as legislators, imbued with public trust.
What kind of senators are we electing? If these are the kind of Senators we are electing, we should not be surprised that the same Senators are more active in schemes which allow the PDAF scam to happen.
It is a direct consequence of a parody on the meaning of democracy: Government to fool the people, buy the people, off the people!
Something has to be done about people who market themselves as “for the people” by their movie persona, deceptive marketing/publicity, because our democracy is stunted, distorted or co-opted by undependable, corrupt political leaders.
It is not because we are a bunch of snobs who sneer at the taste of the masa for movie stars; but it is our duty to protect those who are less educated from the consequence of a “bought electoral victory”.
Our democracy is imperfect, complicated, convoluted, but this is the only country that we got. Why is it that our elected officials who are charged with despicable scams have no shame or fear at all? What makes them so bold?
Plunder is a heinous crime, non-bailable, a grave crime against the people. Some quarters are positing the theory that since they are allied with the predicted next president, Vice President Jejomar Binay, they are just waiting, taking their time, because they have smart lawyers who have strategies to delay the legal proceedings.
It will take time, at least five years. They know for sure that Binay will give them pardon.
Believe it or not, that is a plausible theory!
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata….
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Author’s email: [email protected]
