According to Robert Jackson, “Men are often bribed by their loyalties and ambitions than by money.” In this age where the quest for power always outshines that of the common good, men and women belonging to all kinds of institutions have always (knowingly or unknowingly) lived up to this quote.
Presently, the senate of the Philippines is sitting as a single committee to hear unethical complaints hurled against one of their own, Sen. Manny Villar. One cannot blame a regular observer if he questions the objectivity, much less the credibility, of the accusers and the defenders alike. For one point, the sitting arrangement of the senators during the first day was almost a give-away of where they stand. Flanked by two opposing forces, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was the only one who seemed fair during that set up.
As standard practice, the proceedings started with the finalization of what rules were going to be followed during its entirety or whatever amendments were needed to be included to get the ball rolling. This initial stage alone was enough to solicit an outbreak of viewpoints from both sides. When the counsel of the Ethics Committee for instance started reading the list of alleged ethical violations of Villar, Pimentel was quick to interject and tried to tone down the counsel’s report claiming that the statements being read may very well spark a ‘trial by publicity.’ The other side did not budge as that is probably exactly what they wanted.
Most individuals surmise that this hearing on ethical complaints against Villar is nothing more than a blade designed to slice the man’s possible rise to power into several pieces. The former senate president who has been reportedly leading every political survey is what stands between his detractors and their own ambitions. Meanwhile, these very same detractors are also the ones blocking the certain objectives of Villar’s backers once he is in the country’s top executive post. In short, everybody has their own cause to rally.Presently, the senate of the Philippines is sitting as a single committee to hear unethical complaints hurled against one of their own, Sen. Manny Villar. One cannot blame a regular observer if he questions the objectivity, much less the credibility, of the accusers and the defenders alike. For one point, the sitting arrangement of the senators during the first day was almost a give-away of where they stand. Flanked by two opposing forces, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was the only one who seemed fair during that set up.
As standard practice, the proceedings started with the finalization of what rules were going to be followed during its entirety or whatever amendments were needed to be included to get the ball rolling. This initial stage alone was enough to solicit an outbreak of viewpoints from both sides. When the counsel of the Ethics Committee for instance started reading the list of alleged ethical violations of Villar, Pimentel was quick to interject and tried to tone down the counsel’s report claiming that the statements being read may very well spark a ‘trial by publicity.’ The other side did not budge as that is probably exactly what they wanted.
An ethical disgrace would certainly cut down Villar’s chances of claiming victory in 2010 more so now that anomalies are being unearthed like worms almost daily. Villar might as well kiss his goal goodbye once public perception is molded against him because of this controversy. If he goes down so will the aspirations of those who champion for him, whatever they may be. With Villar out of the way, analysts say that the attack dogs would then turn to each other in frenzy. That’s the way of the world. In the end, the question still remains the same: will the last man standing be the one to truly fight for the cause of the many against the few? We sure hope so.
In fairness, Enrile gave the impression last Monday that the hearing would be impartial and well-mannered. That however still remains to be seen. In the coming days, the Filipino people must follow this development closely as it will determine an outcome in which all of us have a lot at stake. Let us try to grasp whether this democratic body which we all trustingly instituted is really what it is and not a pack of sharply-dressed wild wolves tearing at each other for the kill. (Photo courtesy of www.esc.mtu.edu)
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