The House on fire
Discord. Or so it was alleged. The “week that was” displayed a sequence of events demonstrating what appeared to be a form of friction on the imminent change of leadership in the House of Representatives. Some held their breath for another coup, others were edgy for a possible vacancy on all leadership posts, and still a few remained unperturbed. Before the week ended though, the current Speaker retained his headship.
Last year, the Speaker- of-theHouse position was hotly coveted, with three primary contenders: Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-pateros), Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) and Rep. Martin Romualdez (Leyte). It took the participation (upon demand) of President Duterte to end the rivalry as he “brokered a deal” of term-sharing for the speakership role: the first 15 months for Rep. Cayetano (“Alan”), and the remaining 21 months for Rep. Velasco (“Allan”). Leyte Rep. Romualdez became the Majority Floor Leader—quite a settlement, indeed, to still the troubled waters in the House.
The ballyhooed Alan vs Allan contest did not actually end there. Neither did the infighting amongst the rest of the House members. For the early quarter of this year, a coup or at least a rumor of it, was imputed to “Allan” by the sitting Speaker “Alan” whereby the post was to be wrested by one from the other. The former denied it, the latter pounded on it. One media outfit even sniffed the news and released a front-page, doubleedged account entitled “Coup” Pals in a House Drama (pun for the Filipino term “Kupals”?). And days before the supposed turn-over in October, the House was shaken anew with a buzz that Rep. Velasco may not be able to sit on the speakership throne because Rep. Cayetano holds the membership magic numbers. It was even touted that if an election was to be held, “Alan” was prognosticated to win over “Allan” notwithstanding the term-sharing agreement. As if the pot isn’t hot enough, word circulated clandestinely that Rep. Paolo Duterte was to lodge a motion at the House declaring the leadership posts, including the speakership, vacant— all these at the height of the deliberations for the national budget bill for the year 2021. Spectators ( like us) nervously await which type of water could douse the fire.
Now it is out in the open that Budget and Speakership are elements that come in concert, like a tandem. And the Speaker acts like the conductor of an orchestra, wielding the wand of fund allocations for the districts and constituents of the respective congressmen-members. This, as it should, is meant to align with the legislative agenda of the President. But with the current remonstration of unhappy congressmen anent their allotments for the 2021 national budget, the speakership issue is rekindled, and the House is back on fire, its members speaking in different tongues as if possessed by inexplicable spirits.
With less than two years for this 18th Congress, I think this internal strife will strike a chord of societal corrosion, rendering the House unresponsive to the needs of the nation. If disagreements can be healthy, let the end-result be for the common good. After all, factionalism can be utilized in a positive way, as in any genuine democracy.
As daunting as this House controversy may look like, part of my wishful thinking, presumably shared by most, is the coming of the day when our legislators will strip themselves off their very parochial interests and their selfish family empire-building. May current and future members of this House be reminded of what the Bible tells us in James 4: 1-3, which says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” Passion for oneself is evil; passion for country is noble; passion to love others as Jesus Christ told us is next to divine!
Any house will be or remain on fire; prone to destruction and instability, if those living within are not in harmony. People’s interests will inevitably clash but the purpose behind those interests should be in unison. Actions of public servants may appear in conflict but, in truth, they are one and united when grounded in love. Let any leader of the House or any house imbibe the value of leadership. In the Bible, Joshua 24:15, tells us “as for me and my house, we will serve the lord.”
Whether the House will be led by Alan or Allan, God-aided leadership, as what our Preamble tells all Filipinos, is the kind of water that douses any and all fires.
Much thanks to Raphael Legazpi (not a real name), a Spirit-filled lawyer with much love for the Philippines and the Filipino, who contributed this article—house on Fire.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.