Sensei Sonny and his 212

Tuesday, 22 March 2011 10:53

Written by Malou Tiquia

The Japanese word sensei means teacher. It is used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art form or some other skill. In politics, very rare are individuals who can read a landscape correctly, very rare do you see a political leader who can do lateral thinking and read through several scenarios and still get it. It is likewise very rare for a leader with sensei-like aptitude and skills to implement strategies with cunning, setting aside noble intentions. Last night, voting on the impeachment of Merci was a class act for Speaker Sonny Belmonte and a lesson to learn for the grandmaster, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who lost the game.

Belmonte vis-à-vis Speaker De Venecia pales in comparison. De Venecia was said to epitomize traditional politics and of getting things done if he wants to and favors his interests or that of his party. In fact, the reforms during the time of former president Fidel V. Ramos would not have succeeded had it not been for Smilin’ Joe and his so-called Rainbow Coalition. What with Belmonte?

A lot of political watchers were saying Belmonte is just a mayor of the biggest city (land area) in the country who became speaker because of political favors. Wrong. If you look at his stable of talents, one would say there is no heavy hitter in the group. Correct. One quipped, “he just transplanted QC to the House of Representatives.” Probably. But then again, no one saw the broad strokes last night and that has earned this Sensei tag for the withdrawn but highly effective speaker.

It was not because of LP that Merci was impeached at the House of Representatives. It was not the “Speaker carrying the show for LP” rather it was Belmonte showing to one and all his brand of speakership. Belmonte drove a hard bargain with the giants of each party. Not having a SARO or an NCA to wave but mere word of honor, he was able to build a coalition hardly seen in the chamber on cases of impeachment when allegations fly high that money exchanged hands. The other side of the table was giving out largesse just to hold an advantage for Merci early Wednesday. They had a two-week offensive and for them securing 94 votes to impeach were hard. When the weekend rolled in, the numbers became shaky for Merci and there came the play of two personalities from the majority, which we will not reveal here. One was a leader of a party and the other one was recently appointed top political honcho. Both flubbed the passes that went their way.

They traded, cajoled, swapped whatever they can get but by Monday, 21 March, the Ides came, and the number was not crystal clear. On that day, two political parties met in separate caucuses (one, early morning and another, near lunch) and the Speaker intervened, even extending his reach with the 56 party list representatives. Things moved fast at the backrooms despite Belmonte being in Malacanang to accompany the South Korean Speaker Park Hee-tae to his courtesy call to BSA3. You would think he would be collaring legislators for the vote. But no, Belmonte was all smiles as he greeted his president.

By session time, Speaker Belmonte was in his elements, opening the session and suspending it to welcome the South Korean delegation and just when session was about to resume, another veteran legislator took the rostrum as presiding officer. Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentabella took over the reigns and this was a veritable tour of the rules.

I saw all these on TV hence I texted a very smart veteran in political dynamics in the House, where was the Speaker? I asked, “are you distancing the Speaker from eventual defeat or is he watching by the sidelines expecting the roll out of a darn good strategy? Why did I ask these questions? By tradition, a big vote on the floor would mean the Speaker being present –- front and center, ensuring things will be according to design. That was true with the almost every Speaker but not Belmonte. He was not even on the floor after the vote of 212 for impeachment. Justice chair Niel Tupas got the accolade. The speaker was not seen but was felt. Historical indeed!

He allowed debate to prosper, no muzzling unlike the dominant group, which seems to be unable to act like a majority party or party in government. This party told its 80 or so legislators to toe the line. One legislator said, “pwersahan.” Another one was quoted as saying he will never go to their headquarters since they treated us like “utusan.” And so, a leader in Belmonte filled up the void. Belmonte allowed prolonged debate. Belmonte allowed virulent dissent. Legislators even with successive tremors from earthquakes rocking the metropolis stayed and listened and when voting time came, Belmonte showed to all who was “King of the Hill.”

A veteran strategist was saying, “it was really knowing how to handle power and the levers that come with it.” Rep. Sonny Belmonte became speaker because several parties picked him to be one. But he needed only two groups to stay speaker. Its for your to guess which groups these are. Now he has checkmated the two and has shown everyone how to behave like a majority party without taking the crooked path. No one was threatened to be removed from the Commission on Appointments, to be removed as chair, etc. He provided access to BSA3 and his party and this time around they will respect him more, as well as his word that what legislators requested will be delivered. He taught LP how to be majority and showed to all we will not go the way of the previous Congress.

As to the other side of the Merci debate, they loss lots of honey and the grandmaster loss opening and closing gambits due to a misreading leading to a miscalculation on Speaker Belmonte. And now the Speaker’s hold to the hill is stronger and with 212, he may no longer need the teachings of a wily grandmaster. Belmonte is now sensei.

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