Truly politics of sila-sila

See what I mean? It’s truly exclusivist politics of sila-sila by our leaders. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, yakking on the very day his ex-boss Joseph Estrada testified in self-defense against plunder, proved it once again.

Lacson said he knew all along that Estrada’s Muslim Youth Foundation was being funded by jueteng. As PNP chief in 1999 he even advised the then-President to reconsider using illegal money to educate Muslim scholars.

Lacson’s candor can only be matched by his negligence. For, as the highest policeman at that time, he had a prime duty. Estrada lawyer Rene Saguisag explains it for him: "If what he said is true, then on principle he should have resigned and denounced the supposed graft." Lacson did no such thing, perhaps in debt of gratitude – in practice of sila-sila. Or maybe, as Saguisag recalls, he was pining for Estrada’s endorsement as presidential candidate in 2004. But that only bolsters sila-sila; Estrada knew his top cop wouldn’t turn him in while awaiting a favor.

Lacson added that he turned down the usual P5-million monthly payola for a PNP head, but Estrada didn’t mind. Allegedly his predecessor Roberto Lastimoso had collected the amount from bagman Gov. Chavit Singson.

One has to ask: if Lacson was so honest, why did he not arrest Lastimoso and Singson for bribery? "Imagine anything more violative of a PMA cadet’s code of honor," Saguisag ponders. Priding himself as an ace sleuth, Lacson can still bring up charges today, as swiftly as he sued Virgilio Garcillano last week for falsifying passports. That he is not inclined to do so makes him an accessory to crime for withholding evidence. Lacson too must thus be investigated, Saguisag suggests. Unfortunately, one-time senator Saguisag in behalf of one-time senator Estrada is presenting his plaint before Senate President Franklin Drilon. Will Drilon defy sila-sila and spear a sitting senator? Unlikely.

On another topic, Lacson raged that it’s wrong to put up a P5-million reward for the capture of PMA pal Gringo Honasan, wanted for rebellion. Prices on heads are only for convicts, he claimed.

Lacson was wrong; wanted men still facing trial can be pictured with prices. Still, if he so bleeds for justice, why did he order summary execution in 1995 of mere "suspects" of the Kuratong Baleleng gang, including two minors, and the strangling of their aunt? Oh, it was for the bank robbers’ cash loot of P52 million and $2 million. Saguisag brings up those murders with Drilon. But even the self-proclaimed human rights advocates in the Senate, like Aquilino Pimentel or Jamby Madrigal, are unlikely to take action. Lacson is their opposition colleague: sila-sila. Before Lacson became senator, the chamber had recommended his prosecution for that Kuratong misdeed. He has eluded it, and they are now silent about it.

The sila-sila tradition crosses party lines. Early last week House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles foresaw impending passage of the long delayed national budget for 2006. His proof was in the actuations of fellow-congressmen, who were rifling through the bill for ways to raise their P40-million annual pork each to P70 million. Minority Leader Francis Escudero feigned the role of a responsible opposition head, saying he would support the budget, despite many reservations, lest he delay projects for the poor. The real enticement, though, was that his minority bloc would partake of the P30-million increase. The bill did pass within two days, in the spirit of sila-sila.

So now the budget goes to the Senate for concurrence. Expect politics of sila-sila to cut as well through perennial inter-chamber deadlocks. For, senators from the administration and opposition are just as eager to raise their own pork barrels from P130 million each to P200 million.

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Opponents of Charter change obfuscated the bases for last weekend’s barangay assemblies in which a switch to parliamentary form was tabled. Some charged that the government wasted millions of pesos on a needless political exercise. Others claimed, without substantiation, that Malacañang is bribing barangay officials P200 a day to gather signatures for a people’s initiative on constitutional amendments.

The law requires the holding of semestral assemblies. For 2006 the interior office has set them for March and October. In those meetings, barangay officials must discuss with voters local and national concerns. It so happens that the national organization of barangay chairmen is under the umbrella of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, which also groups all governors, mayors, vices, provincial board members and councilors. ULAP happens to be advocating a switch to parliamentary form. So the barangay officials agreed to present the pros and cons to their constituents. They discussed other concerns as well, like local peace and order, garbage, drugs, and street greening. Last weekend’s assembly was a required exercise. Only snooty rich residents did not join, as always.

ULAP is giving out allowances to barangay men for photocopying of forms, pens and transport fare in the signature drive. It’s easy to call it vote buying; proving is another thing – as difficult as confirming that Charter change opponents are on the payroll of vested economic interests.

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