When Congress reckoned

Every “Yes” uttered by the people he had thought were his friends, his supporters and colleagues of many years during the agonizingly long and often obviously two-faced recitations they made before declaring that they were in favor of the declaration of his position vacant, must have been like another twist of the knife stuck in the heart of Speaker Jose de Venecia, when he realized that he did not get the support of the President, despite assurances about it earlier. That it all had to take place as he and his family sat there, watching those they had considered, not only professional, but really personal friends, must have been excruciating, and one cannot help but be sorry for them.

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Like thousands of Filipinos all over the country yesterday, and up to late last night, I watched and listened to the perorations of those members who were clearly trying not to sound ungrateful to De Venecia, and were just trying to show how faithful and loyal they are to the President. But I appreciated more those who just walked up to the microphone and said they were voting yes to declare the speakership vacant, in effect, unseating poor JdV, than those who tried to make excuses, obviously currying favor with both sides. Tradpol pa rin, that's what they are.

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It was a dispirited-looking Joe de Venecia who walked into the chamber, who seemed non-plussed when he realized that his colleagues were already moving in for the kill. As he said in his own privilege speech, he had been hoping that the day of reckoning was to be the next day, after they could all talk together and, perhaps come to terms. He didn't look like the seasoned speaker who was known for wheeling and dealing and getting his way. Or the one who always seemed to be the fair-haired boy of the President.

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I listened to JdV's speech and it brought back some memories of that election time when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was being considered as a presidential candidate. Then, suddenly, we heard that she was agreeable to settling for vice president, and this fact was relayed to the local media by De Venecia himself, who was then running for president. I remember his exact words when he announced it, perhaps seeing the unbelieving look on our faces. “As God is my witness,” he said, “She came to me and asked to be my vice president, as God is my witness,” he repeated. I'm sure that if I look this up in my past columns, I will find the item I wrote, quoting this.

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JdV recalled this, and many other incidents related to that election when he had to change his potential running mates to take on GMA. But that was not all he recalled, he also disclosed so many other things he had learned in his long association with the President. That is why opposition members are now getting ready to launch an all-out courtship to bring him to their camp. This means we are in for more exciting times ahead, which our politicians will bring us. Let us just hope they do not forget their duties while engaging in their verbal gymnastics.

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From the very start, it was clear which way the voting would go. Many of those who voted Yes sounded apologetic some of those who voted No were defensive. Some went through the motions of stressing that Malacañang did not influence them, others said they only decided to vote yes after hearing De Venecia's slurs against the President. A good reason, of course. One said he was voting No, but if the motion was to declare all positions vacant, he would change to Yes.

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Two of those who voted No had interesting explanations. Rep. Jules Ledesma said “This thing has nothing to do with the House,” and ended saying his was “a very negative vote”. Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin said “This is a power struggle, pure and simple.” The Gabriela Representative said her No meant “No to Malacañang control over this Congress”. Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo said it was a revenge of the President and the change is intended to tighten her control over Congress, and the change means “twin grounds for danger.”

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But I truly admired one of the solons. I'm sorry I did not catch his name – was it “Ortega”? – he said he could not say yes, because he loves and respects De Venecia, and could not vote No because he also respects and loves President Arroyo, and therefore he was abstaining. And he looked as if he meant it, too.*

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