Override P-Noy’s veto?

CAN a party-list congressman muster enough votes in Congress to override a veto? Bayan Muna representative and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares has taken on this challenge. During last week’s sortie in Cebu together with the Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero tandem, he called on ordinary citizens to urge their respective congressmen to vote for an override.

To back up his words, he met over a dozen senior citizen leaders to discuss the issue and plan local actions.

Though he is not one who easily withdraws from a fight, Colmenares may have taken on an insurmountable challenge. We know majority of our legislators are administration allies. With elections barely months away, they certainly need the administration’s support.

Still, I expect Neri would be able to get the support of non-Liberal political parties, including the second biggest political aggrupation, the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

But then, who knows some Liberal congressmen would decide to go against the President’s position on this issue. Non-approval of additional SSS benefits is an emotional issue for senior citizens and voters in general. The President’s position needs a lot of explanation.

If I’m not mistaken, Colmenares’ success would be historic. If he succeeds, he would have engineered the first successful override of a veto.

I think the Senate would certainly benefit with somebody like Colmenares as member. We don’t anymore have senators who fight like the late Ka Tanny and Bobby Tañada, or a Pepe Diokno.

*** Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo have expressed support for President Aquino’s veto and his reasons for doing so. I understand. They did so without thinking twice about the possibility they would lose votes in the process.

This is a show of political will to uphold what they believe is right. This quality contrasts with that of Vice President Jojo Binay who had no qualms about campaigning during the Sinulog festival.

After denying they heard any boos, Binay’s camp here in Cebu led by suspended mayor Mike Rama are now peddling the line that Cebuanos did not show respect for a visitor during the Sinulog. They find disrespect for the Sinulog less of a sin than booing the one person who showed rudeness by campaigning during the event.

Getting Binay and other members of his slate on the stage as Rama, in his usual convoluted manner during political rallies, introduced the vice president looked very much like campaigning.

At least Poe and Escudero had the sense of appearing in Cebu after the Sinulog and before the International Eucharistic Congress. Still, Poe has to explain–as pointed out by Congresswoman Robredo–why for at least once in her life, she chose to become an American citizen.

Despite invitations from friends, Roxas and Duterte likewise did not show up during the Sinulog. I agree, mere presence could be misinterpreted–something that Binay and his regional coordinator suspended mayor Mike Rama could not fathom.

*** It seems Capitol officials are trying to postpone Provincial Board discussions on the controversial bidding of heavy equipment while they wage a media blitz favoring the approval of the deal. It is becoming apparent top Capitol officials are hell bent on pushing with the deal. They are not heeding words of caution from within their ranks.

*** Is the election among senior citizens in Mandaue City a preview of what to expect come May? I am asking this because of reports of vote-buying to replace the incumbent leaders believed to be sympathetic to the mayoral bid of Councilor Lollipop Ouano. Expect this issue to dominate the narratives from both sides in Mandaue that has the most voters in Cebu Province.

Just one thought on the issue of vote-buying. Is P300 a fair, though illegal, share for voters from an alleged loot from pork barrel funds of at least P3 million?

*** Cebu Archdiocesan officials expected some 300,000 at the opening mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress at the Plaza Independencia yesterday. This should be good not only for the local economy but also in elevating Cebu in the eyes of the world. But what I found significant was the meal IEC volunteers, foreign delegates, and high-ranking priest shared with over 1,000 poor Cebuanos. It surely was symbolic of a Church that has professed preference for the poor.

Still, I like to see substantive decisions during the Congress to back up symbolic gestures.