Senator Trillanes' vain antics and heroics
At the end of the day, the performance of senators and congressmen should be measured in terms of relevant legislative measures that they authored. Posturing in Senate investigations, filibustering, and projecting themselves as knights in shining armor is hardly considered as performance indicators. They are only, to use the language of some millennials, ''pa-epal'' effect, in aid of reelection. So, these actuations of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, instead of endearing himself to the people he is supposed to serve, actually alienate him from the thinking ''hoi polloi.'' Filipinos may be silly, even crazy at times. But by and large, they are not stupid enough to be hoodwinked by Trillanes locking horns with such a legal luminary as Senator Richard Gordon.
Between a failed rebel and a perpetual obstructionist like Trillanes and a high-performing solon like Gordon, the people know very well who is genuine and who is fake. Trillanes was not yet born when Gordon already built a solid reputation as Subic Base Development Authority manager. When he was the Subic top leader, he established very high standards of performance. He inspired people to volunteer to help even ''gratis et amore.'' He made Subic a model city in cleanliness, peace and order, and citizen volunteerism. As Tourism Secretary, he established records and as Red Cross head, he showed the way in disaster preparedness, rescue, relief, and rehabilitation. Trillanes, on the other hand, has done absolutely nothing in the Senate. With his hundreds of consultants, he wasted public funds. He has not authored any significant law.
Trillanes' antics in forcing his way during investigations in aid of legislation, has generated some reactions from his own colleagues in the Upper House. Senator Tito Sotto, who is the Senate majority floor leader, was visibly irked when Trillanes mentioned something like some senators lawyering for Davao Vice Mayor Polong Duterte and Mayor Sarah Duterte's husband Manasse Carpio. Of course, Gordon would not allow any attempt to transform an investigation in aid of legislation into a forum to malign the reputation of innocent third parties who are absent and cannot defend themselves.
The testimonial ''rampage'' of resource person Mark Taguba started it all. In trying to shield himself from inevitable prosecution for his alleged complicity in the smuggling of shabu, this mysterious character initially mentioned the socalled Davao group, which was recklessly attempted to be linked to Polong and Carpio. When cornered to tell the truth, Taguba retreated and cleared both of them. Despite all these, Trillanes persisted in his antics and vain attempts at heroics. Earlier, Gordon declared that he was filing a case against Trillanes in the Senate Ethics Committee to discipline the latter for unparliamentary behavior. We urge Gordon to pursue the case and put Trillanes in his place. The people are no longer amused by such antics. Trillanes should pass laws, not continue to posture and do pa ''pa pogi''. Ad nauseam.