A politician’s word of honor
THERE is supposed to be honor among thieves. What about politicians? Congressmen and senators address one another as “honorable gentlemen,” so why should there be doubts on a politician’s word of honor?
I asked this in the light of the row between House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman of Albay and his supposed “heir-apparent,” Rep. Danny Suarez of Quezon. The two are known to have entered into a “gentleman’s agreement” in July 2010 for a time sharing of the minority post in the House, with Edcel getting the first 18 months of the three-year 15th Congress.
Now, Edcel does not want to relinquish his post, claiming majority of the 29 minority congressmen signed a resolution last December urging him to hold on. Speaker Sonny Belmonte said that the fight is strictly confined to the minority and will not involve the chamber. He is correct.
Many don’t know that the House Minority Leader or Senate Minority Leader is not an official of the chamber as he is elected only by members of the minority. The only officials of the Senate are the Senate President, the Senate President Pro- tem, the chairman of the Committee on Rules who becomes the majority leader, the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-arms. At the House, the only officials are the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, the Sec-gen and the Sergeant- at- Arms. They are all elected in plenary, unlike the minority leader.
But I digress. Under the agreement between Edcel and Danny, Edcel’s term is supposed to end at the last session day of December. Danny is supposed to be the minority leader starting next Monday, January 16, until the 15th Congress adjourns sine die in June 2013. A mere notification in ple- nary that the minority has elected its leader will suffice. There is no election for the post on the floor. Of course, this assumes that Edcel will give way in accordance with their gentleman’s agreement. But then, there is another issue involved in this – should any post in the legislature be subject to a “gentleman’s agreement?”
In the 12th Congress (20012004), there was also a “gentleman’s agreement” between Sen. Franklin Drilon and the late Sen. Rene Cayetano for term-sharing of the Senate presidency, with Drilon getting the first 18 months. Rene died of cancer without enjoying even a single day as Senate President. Other members of the Senate majority said they were not parties to the agreement and, therefore, they were not bound by it. They argued, and validly, I would say, that the post could not be bequeathed by one person to another. So, if Rene were to be Senate President, he should be elected on the floor and not because Drilon was handing it over to him.
Oh yes, there is a side story to this “gentleman’s agreement” between Rene and Drilon. A member of the majority then who requested anonymity told me and other reporters in an informal chat that the top two choices of the majority then were actually Rene and Sen. Manny Villar. Drilon was just the third choice. However, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, according to that senator, brokered a deal where Drilon would be the Sen- ate President for the first 18 months, Rene would be the top honcho in the last 18 months, and Villar was to be the Senate President Pro-tem. That agreement involving Rene and Drilon was never implemented because of the refusal of some majority senators to honor it.
You know, I feel that when it became known that Rene was suffering from cancer, Drilon should have honored his word. Rene died in June 2003 without getting his coveted post. Of course, he would have had it had then President GMA not interceded for Drilon, if that source’s narrative is to be believed. Well, I understand that it is very difficult for a politician to yield power. But then, of what use is the word of an “honorable gentleman” if it is not honored? Are politicians worse than thieves?
Now, I wonder if the “gentleman’s agreement” between Edcel and Danny will go the way of that between Drilon and Rene? Edcel has built a political dynasty in Albay. Danny’s son is governor of Quezon. Both make credible minority leaders. Unless this intramural is resolved, the already minuscule House minority will be further weakened. The easiest way will be for the 29 minority congressmen to hold secret balloting on their choice for leader before the resumption of the session on Monday.
An agreement might be the easiest way to prevent division but this is only a momentary relief. Then, there is the great possibility that the agreement will not be honored. Of course, all this controversy would have been avoided if only our lawmakers would stop thinking of a post as a commodity subject to private arrangement between the top contenders.