The price of democracy
Published: December 17, 2006 by The Bohol Standard
In just a fortnight, the House of Representatives shuttled between what it had always believed was the right thing to do and what majority of the Filipinos want. As though a bad dream that vanished into thin air with the coming of the light, Congress convening itself into a constituent assembly (con-ass) seemed like a distant memory.
And yet, no one can dispute the fact that the move was prompted more by self-preservation than a realization of the correct path to take. It was simply the prudent thing in the face of huge demonstrations all over the country.
Only the naive and the idiot will doubt the danger of giving this Congress the responsibility to chart the destiny of the country. This batch of solons has distinguished itselt as a head above the rest in portraying opportunism and shameless disregard for principles.
While the rest of the nation groveled and felt embarrassed by a President who was forced to apologize for calling an election official while the votes were being tabulated, congressmen saw nothing wrong with it.
To hammer down their point, they killed an impeachment move by critics twice over. For them, there was no need to subject her to investigation for that. As to how much they stood to reason for that, the public was only left to speculate.
This same congress had the gall to routinely mock the Senate and project itself as the real power in Philippine legislature. Many people of course did not think much of that, treating it like the rantings of ignoramuses.
It was a different thing of course when they legislated their brazen disregard for the law by turning apart the very ramparts of decency and legality, running through mindlessly as it announced to all and sundry that the Senate was a non-factor as far as amending the constitution was concerned.
This was too much.
In a flash, it was over. The very prosperous looks of Prospero Nograles and Prospero Pichay disappeared. For the first time, Luis Villafuerte and Edcel Lagman seemed like they had actually been hit by the calamity that befell their region.
Celestino Jaraula and Douglas Cagas realized they had bitten far more than they could chew. And the rest of the plotters including the three Boholano solons conveniently disappeared without a trace from that “august†body.
It was a dangerous game alright. Fortunately for the Filipino people, the religious stepped in at just the right time. There is no more room for complacence though.
As the saying goes, vigilance is the price of democracy.
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