Of Institutions and JPE

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Think NATION!

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First 100 Days and Political Capital

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The "No-Proc" Scenarios

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Political Correctness?

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Why PUBLiCUS left Chiz Escudero (Part III)

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Filipinos really have overly extended patience that even when public officials lie while testifying, rage is absent, anger is nowhere to be found, and liars get to paint the town red in total abandon.

Such is the case when former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante testified before the Senate when he was deported to the Philippines. The same also holds true with the "Euro" generals led by retired Police General Eliseo de la Paz. Senators thought that probably Bolante would just be all joke but the joke was on them instead. Hopefully, the Senate rigodon on committee chairmanships would result to a better handling of witnesses, testimonies and evidence presentation.

Not enough of breaking them down, our elected and appointed officials continue to defecate in the very institutions they represent. We have an Ombudsman who gets a long pending case dismissed because of a mere technicality such as the one lodged against former Justice Secretary, ex-Atenean and ex-Congressman Nani Perez, the scandalous voting machines, the Jocjoc Bolante caper, the NBN-ZTE controversy, and a lot more.

On the other hand, the nth impeachment complaint saw a congressperson compare the incumbent leader to a holy person. And then there again is the never-ending cha-cha (Charter change) of any ending regime that seems to be the fad in 1998 and now.  Consequently, we are again looking at another mobilization come December 12.

With the heightened political noise, everybody seems to have forgotten the ascension of Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) to the succession line. The image of the oath-taking of the new Senate President administered by his former aide-de-camp, Senator Gringo Honasan, elicited some comments among political pundits which can best be summarized by stating that JPE is the only one among the EDSA I actors who has yet to assume or sit on the proverbial throne of the Presidency. Today, JPE is two beats away.

One thing is clear: JPE has been able to surpass what the EDSA I actors have done and he still remains in the thick of the debates and leading the pack in the legislative maze. At 84 years old, JPE still relishes to read and reread books he has gone through. He moves around town with a staff holding a book or two. He still relishes mental calisthenics and argues persuasively on key points.

Some of the pundits who noticed his assumption of the Senate Presidency said that JPE is in a legacy mode already. I argued against it and even volunteered the thought that if there is any truth to some quarters’ call, JPE may just be able to serve the highest post of the land in the twilight of this administration's extended run and restore decency and ensure the transfer of power peacefully. We might just have a perfect candidate in a scenario where who takes over seems to be answered by Mr. Senate President.

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