By Farah G. Decano

 

THE Quad Committee of the House of Representatives has so far earned a better reputation than the Senate.  Representatives Jinky Luistro, Rodge Gutierrez, Raoul Manuel, and Paolo Ortega have been receiving praise from Filipino observers because of the firm but calm manner they propound valid questions to their resource speakers. They do not resort to verbal ballistics or rude remarks.  They also attend meetings prepared with a list of questions and some cuts of videos to confront the speakers with.

Some of their counterparts in the Senate pale in comparison. Aside from having nothing substantial to say, they behave like spoiled brats who do not hesitate to display their tantrums whenever they cannot extract their desired responses.  These so-called Honorables waste the time of viewers with jokes, protracted sermons, and unreasonable fits of temper.

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Former President Rodrigo Duterte (FPRRD) finally appeared before the Quad Com which is currently investigating his War On Drugs policy.  Perhaps, the members were intending to obtain  some new admissions from the very frail ex-president. The Quad Com’s investigation, however,  resulted in a dud.  

Aware of  FPRRD’s quick temper, the Quad Com perhaps sought to agitate him to secure a confession like Jack Nicholson did in a “A Few Good Men.”  He was even made to sit beside his arch nemesis, former senator Leila de Lima, as ex-senator Sonny Trillanes confronted him with his alleged bank accounts.  Instead of controversial and bombastic revelations from the ex-chief executive,  the only bitesize news from the said proceedings were FPRRD’s attempts to throw a punch at Senator de Lima and hurl the microphone at Senator Trillanes.  His answers before the House of Representatives were as elusive as his responses before the Senate hearing.  He reiterated his statement that he is responsible for the legal consequences of his War on Drugs.  He, however, would not admit personal guilt in the killing of each named individual.  

This statement on his responsibility on the War on Drugs campaign was first read by FPRRD before the Senate.  It was considered by many as an extra-judicial confession.  The presence of Atty. Sal Panelo beside the former chief executive, however, should signal to the public that he probably wrote that controversial “admission.”  It was carefully crafted to make the ex-president still appear as the tough guy without turning the same into a criminal confession. Atty. Panelo is known for his skill in defending clients by mere play of words.

If I were to correctly read the mind of Atty. Panelo as the defense counsel later in a criminal case against the ex-president, he will claim that FPRRD did not make an extrajudicial admission because:  1) the word used in the alleged confession is “responsibility” which is not the same as “accountability,” and applying the principle of strict scrutiny in criminal cases, the former term refers to the obligation to complete a task while the latter word is tantamount to being answerable for all the overall outcome or results of tasks; and 2) the former chief executive only acknowledges responsibilities that are legal. Illegal consequences are therefore excluded.

The only way that PRRD would probably make any reckless confession is when one attempts to infuriate him and engage him in bardagulan outside the halls of Congress. This way, any lawmaker who wishes to confront him will no longer feel restricted by their rules of conduct during sessions.

There is no doubt that the Queen of Bardagulan, Partylist Rep. Bing Guanzon, can deliver this job with a rare and exceptional combination of bruteness and finesse.  She can verbally brawl with anybody like a street fighter without uttering gutter words. 

She is most likely not a member of  the Quad Com because she is very outspoken about her antipathy against the Marcoses. House Speaker Martin Romualdez will definitely not tap her skills. Sayang!

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