IF THE senate squabble is any indicator, principled politics could have gone extinct, as politicians are seen jumping ship for the sake of compromise, patronage, vengeance and convenience.
At the senate, the erstwhile SB-11 managed to gain the upper hand with Senator Francis Escudero crossing the so-called “enemy line,” where he stands a chance to be exonerated.
Escudero, accused of receiving “commitment fees” corresponding to flood control projects, reportedly felt betrayed that he wasn’t picked by peers in the minority bloc to lead the Senate during the May 11 powergrab. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate President.
ESCUDERO FACTOR
As the senate squabble worsens, the Cayetano bloc skipped plenary – but not for long. Escudero attended a Senate plenary session, bringing the total number of present senators to 12 and securing the constitutional majority needed to declare a quorum.
Breaking a legislative deadlock, senators in attendance called and concurred a leadership shake-up that effectively stripped members of the Cayetano bloc of positions in the higher chamber.
To start with, the new majority bloc elected Senator Sherwin Garchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Senator Loren Legarda.
As Senate President Pro-Tempore, Gatchalian was able to preside over the senate plenary sessions, as an “acting Senate President.”
NEXT TO DEFLECT
Inspired by how Escudero managed to join the Palace-backed majority bloc, lawyer Edward Chico hinted at the possibility of two other minority senators “jumping ship” too.
His forecast includes Sen. Joel Villanueva, who like Escudero is also accused of receiving “commitment fees” corresponding to flood control projects in Bulacan province.
Another senator whom Chico claimed might consider the idea of joining the administration-backed Gatchalian wing is detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
According to Chico, Villanueva’s entry to the Gatchalian wing would render the minority bloc powerless. His fearless forecast — Cayetano would be officially ousted by virtue of 13 affirmative votes as required under the 1987 Constitution.
CAYETANO LOSING
Chico, who is familiar with the issue, told the Tribune’s Usapang OFW program, that the issue no longer needed to be discussed and deliberated by the Supreme Court, as the majority of 13 senators is more than enough to wrestle the Senate Presidency currently held by Cayetano.
Just yesterday the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by a private citizen to declare the June 3 session as a legally valid quorum. Interestingly the Court did not rule on the validity of the 12-senator session; it dismissed the case because the petitioner lacked legal standing.
Chico earlier wrote in his Tribune column: “To be honest, Cayetano is on the losing end here. Since the 3 June session was presumptively regular because it was conducted in the senators’ official capacity as legislators, his only remedy is to file a case in court. Unless he does that, he cannot rebut that presumption.”
SP’S LAST RESORT
But filing a case “would mean recognizing the presumptive validity of the plenary session. At some point, though, he may have no other choice. Right now, things are still manageable since the Senate has adjourned sine die and therefore has no other business except the occasional committee hearings held here and there. But when the impeachment trial commences, confusion over who should serve as presiding officer could create chaos,” he continued.
When that time comes, Cayetano may not be able to flex his muscle since the Gatchalian-led majority enjoys the support of the administration, whose resources could be used to stifle and cripple him. Thus, initiating a case now may be the only way to salvage his situation.
Unless, of course, another senator from his group transfers to the new majority. Then it’s game over.
CHICO’S FORECAST
The lawyer cited what he aptly referred to as “dynamics” where legislators group themselves based on their needs.
“In the case of Villanueva, he had a similar reason to Senator Chiz Escudero, as both have pending cases linked to their supposed involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal,” Chico averred.
“Of course, first of all, they need to have a reason to transfer. For example, Villanueva—I would not be surprised if he moves because that was the same reason why Chiz moved,” he stated.
To recall, both lawmakers have been cited by the Office of the Ombudsman as some of the key individuals being probed, with investigators currently in the preliminary investigation stage.
Escudero has been tagged as mastermind of the flood control kickback scheme along with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, while Villanueva’s plunder case was reportedly “ripe” for filing.
JINGGOY’S REGRET
The most recent senator to be hit with non-bailable charges was Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was arrested at the Senate on June 1 by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division for graft and plunder.
Chico said he feels bad for the detained senator — “because had he known that those other two would actually join the other group, he would have done the same.”
Aside from offering his take on who would fill the 13th slot on Gatchalian’s majority slate, Chico revealed information concerning the supposedly irregular manner in which cases have been filed against lawmakers.
Chico said he had a reliable source who told him that Estrada had actually supported the rumored push for Senator Loren Legarda to be elected as the new Senate President.
EXCHANGE DEAL
But, he claimed, Jinggoy allegedly received a call discouraging him from pursuing the effort in exchange for discussing his pending case, so as not to let Legarda obtain the leadership role.
This revelation was said to be the reason why cases against lawmakers were not filed at the same time, despite the concurrent nature in which the evidence and testimonies against them were submitted.