Of abusive congressmen and incompetent bureaucrats

The display of blatant arrogance by that partylist congressman in the airport is indicative of the moral decay in the ranks of our officialdom. The lack of quick and appropriate denunciation by airport officials is an even worse sign of incompetence and lack of concern among our bureaucrats. If I were chairman of the House ethics committee, I would convene within 24 hours a panel and after due process either suspend or expel that petty tyrant disguised as a congressman. If I were chairman of the minority where that arrogant rogue belongs, I would issue a written reprimand even before hearing his lame alibis. Res ipsa loquitor; the thing speaks for itself. If I were the airport general manager I would demand a written public apology.

Who is he to accost airport security personnel? What achievements has he contributed to Philippine legislation? Even if he made some sterling performance, it doesn’t give him license to abuse minor officials and personnel only doing their job. What credentials made his head swell with delusions of grandeur? Does he believe a congressman is above the law, that he should be exempted from security regulations? What makes him special as not to be subjected to the same protocols all must go through? If I were in the leadership of his partylist, I would immediately withdraw the party’s confidence in him and strip of him of all trappings of power and prestige.

In the good old days of Philippine politics where political titans like Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Claro M. Recto, Jose W. Diokno. Lorenzo Tañada, Camilo Osias, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Jose P. Laurel, Jovito Salonga, Ambrocio Padilla, and Arturo Tolentino were in both houses of Congress, there was no display of arrogance. On the contrary, those statesmen were perfect gentlemen, dignified, respectable, and never haughty. They were oratorical and parliamentary gladiators when they debated. But they were always gentle, courteous, and socially graceful. That congressman who was sent to Congress by mere nomination of a partylist behaved like he owned the airport.

I am more concerned however in the lack of political will of transport officials to stand up for their underlings bullied by that self-centered demagogue. They missed a golden opportunity to show leadership by standing up for their rules and defending their subordinates. If this happened in Japan or Great Britain, transport officials would have demanded a public apology at the very least. The general manager’s silence shows his lack of leadership and fear the budget of his agency might be held captive by congressmen.

That congressman has no place in legislature and doesn’t deserve to be called “honorable.” He dishonored OFWs he supposedly represents and is a shame to the Lower House. His comment about his supposed “monthly period” made matters even worse. He caught the ire of the progressive women sector, led by Gabriela, which immediately issued a stern denunciation. That congressman, even if he is known to Secretary Bong Go or to the president himself, does not deserve to stay a minute more in Congress. If he has delicadeza and self-respect, he should tender his irrevocable resignation immediately.

For a country suffering from a worsening economy and social conflicts, we do not need too many congressmen. They are the most expensive white elephants the poor taxpayers must feed and fatten. It is high time to abolish the Lower House, not just the partylists, and be content with a unicameral Senate. We do not need more laws passed. We just have to implement the hundreds of thousands of laws already existing.

‘It is high time to abolish the Lower House, not just the partylists, and be content with a unicameral Senate.’