Loyalties

That was a bizarre confrontation yesterday between the majority floor leader of the House of Representatives, Rodolfo Fariñas, and his political nemesis, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

The eldest daughter of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, worried about House detention for contempt together with the so-called Ilocos 6, brought along with her heavy artillery: her mother, the durable and well-preserved Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, and the most durable of them all, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, miraculously recovered from serious illness since being allowed to post bail in his pork barrel corruption case.

Because of the interesting cast of characters, the rumor mill was on overdrive throughout yesterday’s hearing on the case of the so-called Ilocos 6. Enrile, it was said, provided not only valuable legal counsel to Governor Imee but also the voice of conscience to Fariñas, allegedly reminding the majority floor leader that he owed what he was today to the Marcoses.

Fariñas acknowledged his loyalties during the joint session of Congress for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) the other day at the Batasang Pambansa, where he was seen touching his forehead to the hand of Imeldific in a traditional mano po.

Grilling Governor Imee, whom he addressed as “ma’am,” Fariñas showed that tobacco excise taxes meant for farmers were used for the purchase of vehicles.

He also took the occasion to defend himself from counter-accusations of wrongdoing, even ordering the showing of a video featuring himself rescuing some persons from torrential flooding in his home province. Our hero… maybe it’s true Fariñas is aiming for the presidency. It might give boxer Manny Pacquiao a run for his money.

The knock on Fariñas’ conscience apparently worked. At the end of the inquiry, he ordered the Ilocos 6 freed after two months of detention. Governor Imee wasn’t detained for contempt. Fariñas also stressed that no charges would be filed since his panel’s probe was only in aid of legislation.

Perhaps the Office of the Ombudsman can step in and initiate its own probe, motu proprio, for a possible case of malversation of tobacco taxes.

There was an Orocan moment of handshakes and wide grins as the House inquiry ended, to be resumed at a later date.

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This case illustrates the enduring ties that bind in this country. Such ties are among the biggest hindrances to accountability and efforts to promote good governance and the rule of law.

President Duterte, in his SONA, lamented the problems in delivering reforms and genuine change. “Sadly, although we knew years ago that what was needed or ought to do, we did not do (them) because our idea of government was parochial and we could not rise above family, ethnic and clan loyalties as well as loyalty to friends and co-workers,” he said.

Allies, however, can also turn against each other. Often this is the only opportunity for ordinary folks to find out what their politicians are doing wrong.

Duterte seems to prefer keeping his hands off when his supporters accuse each other of wrongdoing. He has noticeably refused to mediate in the nasty feuds between Fariñas and Imee Marcos (one of the handful of politicians who supported his campaign), and between his two province mates, campaign financier Tonyboy Floirendo and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The non-interference has been interpreted by some quarters to mean that Du30 wouldn’t mind if his allies implicated in wrongdoing would kill each other – figuratively, of course.

As the 17th Congress opened its second session the other day, the grapevine was awash with rumors that Alvarez was on his way out. This time, the replacement is supposedly no longer Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

Like Imee Marcos, GMA is also known to be one of the original believers in Duterte’s presidential potential, and among his top campaign donors.

One of GMA’s former staunch supporters, who later became disillusioned with her administration, told me that no matter how well-meaning a president is in this country, he or she eventually gets swallowed up by the system, forced to make compromises to get things done even if they go against reform efforts.

Duterte, in his SONA, said he wanted “change in government, not a change that is passing but a change that can survive the test of time.” Can a president push genuine change when those around him are among the staunchest defenders of the status quo?

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The rise, fall, and dramatic return to prominence of the Marcoses are constant reminders of how little has changed in this country.

So much hope is pinned on Duterte to deliver “real change,” as he promised in his campaign. The composition of his SONA audience at the Batasan surely reminded him of the difficulty of his mission.

The most dramatic change he has delivered so far is to individual families that have permanently lost members to his vicious war against the drug menace.

Although it sounds heartless and inhuman, there are people who are seriously hoping that he will expand his brutal war to at least the most notorious crooks in government, just to send a powerful warning against corruption.

But then the ranks of his political allies could be decimated. And he needs them for delivering on his promise of change.