Palabra de Honor in politics

By Atty. Farah G. Decano

 

INTERNET definition of “Palabra de Honor,” otherwise known as “Word Of Honor,” is a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not do) someth‌ing in the future. The concept also demands consistency of declarations or statements.

Your word is your honor, they say. Why must we give the weight of integrity to the words that escape our mouths?   Simple. Because upon our words depend other people’s actions and judgments. We are expected to be consistent with our declarations so that we won’t cause any prejudice upon others who relied on them.  Our pronouncements could spell the difference between a lifetime of bliss or regret.

When failing to keep our assurances becomes frequent, the words that encapsulate them later lose their meaning.  No matter how emphatic or Cicero-like our utterances may be delivered, they will remain empty and without effect to those who hear or read them. In the end, these statements will be taken as deceptive, evasive, or simply pusillanimous and the speaker thereof will be perceived as a clown, a coward, or a fraud.

In the courts of law, when witnesses make inconsistent statements in substantial matters, their testimonies will not be considered or given much weight.  It could make or break a case. Hence, for our credibility’s sake, our pronouncements in real life should stand the test of rigid cross examination.

The recent controversy between Representatives, Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco, regarding the leadership of the House, should be an easy issue of palabra de honor.  Congressman Cayetano agreed to a term-sharing for the speakership of the house. He was supposed to hold the position for only 15 months and thereafter, turn over the house leadership to Congressman Velasco. Incumbent Speaker Cayetano, however, refuses to step down. He claims that the exigencies of the times do not permit him to recognize his own commitment. He asserted that there was a national budget to be passed and that he was doubtful if the contender Congressman Allan Velasco would be voted upon by the members. As of this writing, he offered to resign as Speaker which was put to a vote. His offer was rejected, of course, by his allies in the House whose support he fortified during his stint.

“All is fair in love and war.” I am suddenly reminded of this famed quote.  While there is no taking of arms in this dispute between Representatives Cayetano and Velasco, “politics is war without the bloodshed (according to Mao Zedong)”.  Do we tolerate all kinds of strategies of politicians even if this would run counter to the observation of “palabra de honor?”

Whether the aforesaid gentlemen’s agreement is enforceable under the law is another issue. I shall deal only with the matter of whether or not Congressman Alan Cayetano should honor his commitment?” I find his justifications for disregarding the gentlemen’s agreement to be very flimsy. In light of such term-sharing agreement, here is what I would do.  Because I put value to my word, I shall ascertain that I shall not create any emergency that would necessitate the extension of my term as speaker. I shall be vocal about my unavailability as leader after 15 months of speakership and shall ensure a proper turn over to the next leader.  Whether Congressman Velasco is palatable to the members of congress is no longer my problem.  As regards the fact that he offered to resign as Speaker in alleged fulfillment of his “palabra de honor,” I find the same to be theatrical. Don’t the internal rules of Congress give the incumbent speaker the privilege to resign without having to refer the matter to his colleagues?

The traditional expectation of honoring one’s word in politics may be relaxed only in times of extreme crises or urgency, or when real, NOT imagined or concocted, common good requires it. Politics should not be a reason for our being brutish and our unbecoming.

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