Integrity the nation needs

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
3/16/2012



Last Monday the nation was witness to a rare display of integrity from a member of Congress. In the eyes of many, Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco became a shining example of how an elected official — who swore fealty to the Constitution — should behave in the exercise of his duties.

The Articles of Impeachment against Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona were rammed by the leaders of the congressional majority into the faces of their fellow legislators without giving them the time to read through the documents before affixing their signatures. It was, from all accounts, a gross violation of the basic rule of verification involving documents sworn before the law.

For refusing to be part of that travesty, Toby became the symbol of congressional integrity — a trait that is sorely lacking nowadays. Even though some of his colleagues, such as Reps. Boying Remulla and Hermilando Mandanas, also refused succumb to Malacañang’s pressure-tactics, when the challenge came to voluntarily put the truth on record in the Senate, only Toby rose to the occasion, with the others simply copping out by seeking Senate subpoenas that were never to come. Through it all, Toby did not shirk from his duty to the Constitution and the nation.

At the other end of the pole, stuck in the mud of trapo politics is a congressman from the lair of some of the most notorious political personalities this country has ever seen — the city of Mandaluyong. Rep. Neptali Gonzales II is a member of one of two political clans that have controlled that city’s politics. The Gonzaleses and Abaloses have, for quite some time, alternated for control of the congressional and mayoralty seats to perpetuate themselves in power.

These two political families are, in fact, among the most yellow of the Yellows. Tracing their roots to the Yellow armies of Edsa I and II vintage, they are believed to be the most sanctimonious yet the epitome of trapo politics.

Even before Toby Tiangco set foot in the Senate, Neptali Gonzales II, in no uncertain terms, already threatened him with expulsion if he were to push through with it — something that the principled Navoteño readily defied.

What gall, indeed, for this Yellow congressman from Mandaluyong to threaten another elected representative of the people. The power that comes with his position as House majority leader must have so gotten into his head that he now throws his weight around with abandon, just as the “supreme” power over impeachment has gone to the heads of some senator-judges cum prosecutors, who simply brush aside all pretenses of impartiality in browbeating witnesses and defense lawyers while refusing to inhibit when openly chastised by the public.

The likes of Gonzales represent a majority of the politicians prevailing in our corrupt political system while Toby is just the one whom most of our suffering people can pin their hopes on.

Tiangco is, in fact, among the rare breed of political leaders who have dared raise the power issue when, in the halls of Congress, he asked why power consumers are paying a value added tax (VAT) on “systems losses.” Dina Abad, in contrast, merely sat on her cushy seat as chairman of the House energy committee and did nothing.

Similarly, the so-called young House prosecutors at the forefront of the botched impeachment case, such as Niel Tupas, Erin Tañada, Miro Quimbo, Bolet Banal, et. al, have proven themselves to have kowtowed to Malacañang. By executing illegal orders in behalf of their Palace patron, they have readily violated the sacrosanct separation of powers; prostituted themselves for their slice of the pork barrel; trampled upon constitutional rules and the Rules of Court just to adopt patently illegal House rules on impeachment and verification, thereby trampling upon the rights of the accused; and conspired to obtain information illegally.

But trapo politics cuts across generations. These young trapos have surely learned well from their forebears, who are themselves getting their well-deserved rewards. To wit, the following lucrative posts were recently handed: For the elder Tañada, the chairmanship of the group of United Coconut Planters Bank, Coconut Industry Investment Fund, et. al; for a former Quezon City councilor said to have operated several sauna bath joints in Cubao during his incumbency, membership in the board of Poro Point Management Corp.; and for the extremely lucky Tupases, a Philippine National Oil Co. post for the father and a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board seat for the sister.

Clearly, as these appointees do not bring anything new to the table, it is all plain nepotism. But as such is the rule of success in Yellow society and politics, can they all be expected to have any shame?

Fortunately, despite this culture of corruption, Filipinos can still celebrate whenever there are leaders who rise above the mire by becoming shining examples of integrity in government.

So we ask: Is Neptali Gonzales II going to make good his threat of expelling Toby Tiangco from the House? Let’s see him try and invite a good skewering from the public. Tiangco’s Senate appearance right after Gonzales’ shameless threat is without doubt a gauntlet across the majority floor leader’s cheek. As Toby is sure to not back down, we should let the good congressman know that we are all rooting for him in his fight for decency and integrity in the Lower House.

(Tune in to 1098AM, dwAD, Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m.; watch Destiny Cable GNN’s HTL edition of Talk News TV, Saturdays, 8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11:15 p.m., on “Mindanao power crisis and Epira;” visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives)