THE CONTINUED boycott by the majority senators led by beleaguered Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano of the Senate proceedings is much like grade school students who refuse to attend class because one of them was expelled by the school principal for his severe violations of school regulations.
This is how low the image of the entire Senate institution had sunk with the belligerence of the decimating majority bloc to recognize that wrongdoings should not be protected, but offenders must face the consequences of their acts.
The majority, which staged the coup to replace SP Tito Sotto with Cayetano (by physically hauling in fugitive Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to the hall to ensure that the leadership change happens and later to hype a drama that the the Senate was being attacked by the NBI through gunshots that later turned out to be coming only from the Senate Sergeant at arms–the tool used by Cayetano to muddle the arrest of dela Rosa.
The Cayetano bloc opted to escort and empathize with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada– wanted for plunder and other crimes– as he surrendered to prevent a repeat of the booboo that happened during the orchestrated escape of dela Rosa while in protective custody of Cayetano.
And just like the students who boycotted their classes because of the rightful expulsion of their peers, the majority bloc took their case to social media to drum up widespread support from the netizens.
But to their surprise, the netizens voiced their objection to the majority bloc’s insensitivity and their sheer self-preservation agenda, reminding them that these highly-paid lawmakers (now widely termed as law breakers) are wasting their taxes by such childish tantrums.
Cayetano, even as Speaker of the House, refused to honor the term-sharing agreed upon and padlocked the session hall and turned off the internet so no congressman could vote to expel him from his post. But they did in another place and he was ousted at last. He still carries that image in his heart, which is why he is resorting to other means to prevent his removal.
The minority bloc has demanded his resignation and have shown their solid stand by going to the Senate with a view of raising a resolution and voting on it– to declare all positions vacant.
Senator Erwin Tulfo said the ongoing boycott of the majority bloc was disgraceful and violated Senate rules. He actively spoke of the “embarrassing” boycott by the majority bloc and demanded the resignation of Cayetano as the latter can no longer function effectively.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, also with the minority bloc, called for Cayetano’s resignation and challenged him to show up, calling the “boycott” a “cowardly” act and criticized him for using Facebook Live to discuss issues instead of appearing on the senate floor.
And today, President Marcos Jr. already ordered the senators to go back to work amid the ongoing impasse in the Senate, warning that the chamber’s inability to hold sessions has disrupted essential legislative functions and undermined government efforts to address pressing national concerns.
The President said his administration is exploring all legal and constitutional options to address the situation, but stressed that resolving the deadlock ultimately depends on the cooperation and commitment of the Senate leadership.
“Get back to work,” Marcos bluntly answered when asked about the Senate’s failure to hold sessions for the past two consecutive days and the uncertainty about whether it would resume sessions before adjourning this week.
“Because it’s important. We have so many things to do in the government,” he averred.
“I’m afraid all these events that we have been witnessing has thrown the whole Senate into disarray. It has discredited the leadership, and it has stopped the essential business of legislation and government,” the president added.
Marcos, a former senator and congressman for Ilocos Norte, was puzzled about how the current Senate got into a chaotic situation.
“The executive continues to work. The judiciary continues to work. Why does the legislature decide to stop working? I don’t understand that,” he said.