I’ve just arrived from my long weekend vacation. As I was taking a late lunch, my father-in-law decided to open the TV and watch the news. And of course, the sound that greets me is Sen. Santiago’s annoying incessant rage. Against whom and about what? I don’t really know… and I don’t really care.
Is just me or are these senate investigations becoming tiresome? Doesn’t it seem like the senate is launching investigations left, right and center? I suppose if the First Gentleman farts in public and causes a fainting spell within a five-meter radius, sen. Lacson would outright declare that probing into it would be necessary. I mean, I’m not paying them part of my hard-earned money (which I could have devoted to buying magnificent shoes and/or bags) just so they could shout themselves hoarse on tv.
Furthermore, aren’t these investigations supposed to be in aid of legislation? That is the mandate of the Constitution. These so-called senators are not granted a wide leeway; they cannot just investigate anything their hearts desire at the expense of some of my cash. Has anybody actually asked what piece of enligtening law they are planning to propose after these investigations? I would suppose that they don’t even intend to do anything about whatever they find out. The way things are looking, I would think that the only reason they’re launching these investigations is so that they can yell and take a piece of some officials in the executive department, just because they don’t really like the president or her husband.
If I didn’t know better, I would think senate is trying to arrogate unto itself the power to hear and decide case, which properly belongs to the Judiciary. As if they didn’t have enough on their hands with law-making, they decide they want to prosecute and punish too! And there’s reason to think that it’s true. Have you heard the way they speak, purposely uttering words and/phrases that belong only before the trial court and which would not have any place in an investigative proceeding — if it were truly merely an investigative proceeding. They speak of burden of proof and evidence as if they were trying to prove something. In an investigation, I should think that the main purpose would only be to seek the truth and not to discredit the witnesses if they don’t come out saying what the senators want to hear. What has happened to the doctrine of separation of powers? From what authority do these senators derive the power to humiliate and harass other public officials? Granted, some of them may really be corrupt. But, in senate, who isn’t? Even the most innocent-looking one is guilty of an act of corruption, even though the magnitude may not be as great as against the other. Nonetheless, he who comes to court must come with clean hands. They can’t all begin listing down what other officials have and have not done in accordance with their duty. After all, I wouldn’t think that they (well, I suppose most of them, rather than all) wouldn’t have the moral ascendancy for that. Who died and made them god?
