EDITORIAL - Making the obvious more pronounced hurts

House majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas kicked up a firestorm when, citing the Constitution, he said members of Congress cannot and should not be arrested over traffic violations whose penalties do not exceed six years of imprisonment. Fariñas may be correct in his assertion. But a public long resentful of the perks and privileges of high offices would hear no more.

If the public knew of this constitutional immunity, they probably prefer not to be reminded of it. If it is there, it is there. Let us just not talk about it. But whatever got into Fariñas, he just had to say it. Maybe he got fed up with the traffic, as he invoked the constitutional immunity during a briefing to lawmakers by an inter-agency task force of traffic.

Still it was a huge mistake by Fariñas to say out loud what is already obvious to everybody. Maybe he himself has not been flagged down for a single traffic violation, thus making him oblivious to the fact that no congressman or senator ever gets arrested for a minor traffic violation. The "8" plate number is already a badge of privilege the sight of which can make any traffic enforcer hesitate at the very least.

In the absence of such a plate, just the booming voice of self-identification by an "honorable" congressman or senator is enough to send Mr. Legislation on his way speedily, his "minor" infractions forgotten as if they never happened. In other words, Fariñas need not have stated the obvious, for it only makes the obvious more pronounced, and therefore even more unconscionable. Keep quiet ka na lang sana, Pare.

On the other hand, there is yet another way for the honorable ladies and gentlemen of the House of Representatives and the Senate not to get delayed, impeded, inconvenienced, or otherwise ruffled on their way to Congress. And that is to get a clean and early headstart on the horrendous traffic. If they can be pretty good in allocating all sorts of allowances for themselves, why not a little allowance for time on the road?

It is enough that representatives of the people enjoy perks and privileges that most people they represent will never get to experience in their lifetimes. It becomes scandalous and obscene to ask for more, especially if what is asked has already been given and saying so only makes the disparity between the representatives and the represented even more painful.