By Farah G. Decano

 

THEY say that Philippine politics on the national scene is high level. In the academic sense, high-level politics tackle issues about international relations and national security. This concept, however, has earned a new connotation in our country to mean the involvement of powerful and influential players who remain diplomatic towards their opponents in public while masking their attack against each other through the cooperation of equally or less powerful individuals.

Simply put, high-level politics in our country means the provision of layers of protection by the influential tentacles for the unforgiving source of the demolition order. In effect, the public is spared of good entertainment like those provided by Manny Pacquiao’s matches and the celebrity break-ups. The opponent in a classy political rivalry won’t know what even hit him or her.

Not anymore.

Since the time of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Filipino people have been treated to spectacles of curses and seemingly uncouth dealings with key officials.

Following the example of the former president, some powerful people have been uttering gutter words and expletives against their opponents without any attempt at all to hide their indignation or their lack of breeding. People have become cheap.

That so far is the general impression about our national politics. Diplomacy and refinement in manners have just flown out of the window. Embarassing.

Some national officials shamelessly do not conceal anymore their sentiments behind tactful behaviour.

Sadly, Vice President Sara Duterte has resorted to the same attitude that her father exhibited during his presidency – maangas with a ‘kill ’em all’ mentality.  I always believed that, since she was frequently at odds with her father, she was most likely different.  The saying- the apple does not fall far from the tree – applies to her after all.

VP Sara should have been more circumspect with her actions. That she publicly admitted to an illegal contract with an assassin to kill the First Couple and the Speaker should she herself be murdered seems the conduct of a thug. Not only did she espouse violence, she also expressed her disbelief in the rule of law.

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The House of Representatives is either doing something right or something wrong. There have always been attempts by resource persons to evade its investigation: resource speakers either fly out of the country, go in hiding, stage a walk-out, or feign a sickness.  

If Congress is respectful towards the guests, affords them due process, and treats them properly by the rules and established jurisprudence, then there should be no reason why the latter would avoid the legislative inquiry unless they fear that they will be compelled to state the truth.

Congress should be steadfast in exercising its power of investigation to avoid public impression of impotency. Contempt powers, however, must be used sparingly so as not to also gain the notoriety of a persecutorial institution. 

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So far, Attys. Harry Roque and Zuleika Lopez, allies of Vice President Sara Duterte have been inquired into and later incarcerated for having been declared in contempt of Congress.

Were the incarcerations valid?

Lying in court is contemptuous. One cannot postpone a case due to a false conflict of schedule in another court. If the rules of Congressional investigation are similar to the court’s, then Atty. Harry Roque’s overnight detention appears to be legal – however, he stated in his motion for postponement an untruthful conflict of schedule. Atty. Zuleika Lopez’s letter to the Commission on Audit directing the same to ignore Congressional orders may also be valid depending on the tone of the letter.  If the letter is merely advisory, then such an act is but part of anybody’s freedom of expression. Congress should not be onion skinned. It is a different banana, of course, when the letter is couched in words that convincingly belittle the powers of Congress to investigate.

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The Integrated Bar of the Philippines already issued a statement regarding the detention of lawyers in contempt of Congress. It allegedly cannot render any opinion regarding Atty. Zuleika Lopez’s case because the organization is non-political, further that lawyers are presumed to know their remedies should they wish to question congressional acts. 

I find this issuance evasive. The IBP should have just cited, at the very least, the rules and cases so the public may be apprised of the rights of resource persons in Congress without necessarily making any pronouncement whether Atty. Zuleika’s contempt was issued with a legal leg to stand on.

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