Points of order

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, from the time he joined the Senate, has had issues with his chamber’s rules of order. More than once, he has foresworn the long established traditions of decorum they embody which not only assure orderly business but were also fashioned to maintain the Senate’s dignity. The result has been the infamous run-ins with his colleagues, committee witnesses and resource persons. Society knows – this man has problems with rules. Or that he fancies himself above them. 

It has been said, most recently by former Senate President Frank Drilon, that there are 24 independent republics in the Senate, each senator being powerful in his own right. A Senator’s vote is disproportionately weightier compared to that of a Congressman. 4.166% to .334% or, roughly, one senator’s vote is equivalent to that of 12.5 Congressmen. Sen. Trillanes has clearly managed to exploit this aspect of Senatorial privilege, in cultivating a voice which is one of the more ubiquitous of his House, using his status as soap box.

But he hasn’t been as significant in the actual crafting of legislation. Sen. Trillanes in hearings or in plenary is a difficult watch. It is as if he hasn’t the patience for the finesse and nitty gritty of law making. Surely, its not because of lack of capacity. He is, after all, a PMA graduate from its BS Naval System engineering program and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. The discomfort with legislation appears, again, to be rooted in an unease with … rules.

He really should give due respect to the deliberative process. The Senate, more than any government institution, is sustained by its rules. To conform to them is to respect your House.

However his parliamentary conduct may have disparaged his chamber, directly or indirectly, he is now benefitting from the security provided by the Senate. Perhaps, after this episode, he may learn to appreciate the institution and its processes more. End result is worthier legislation for all.

Subjective sanctuary. The protection or privilege against arrest given to senators is an individual immunity. The Senate affords you that by membership – it cannot grant you that by physical asylum in its building the way that sanctuary can be sought by foreign subjects in their diplomatic premises.

It does not even apply in Sen. Trillanes’ case as he is charged (is he still?) with rebellion and coup d’etat, felonies punishable by more than 6 years which is the constitutional ceiling for immunity. It is unclear if there was really an official attempt by the military and police contingents to arrest him, armed merely with the presidential proclamation and with no warrant of arrest. But the Senate, without waiting for clarification, did officially enfold the senator in its protective custody, for whatever that was worth. Recall that being in the Senate premises did not shield Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile from arrest for his alleged role in the coups d’etat against President Corazon C. Aquino.

With the official pronouncements from the Philippine National Police, the Military and the President himself, that no warrant = no arrest, we look forward to the senator’s renewed vigor in performing his legislative responsibilities. There is no longer a justification for his continued self imposed confinement. And could he find a good spokesperson? All these press conferences really detract and distract from his sworn duties.

He has hearings coming up to tackle his pet advocacies. We anticipate the confrontation with Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go and the charges and countercharges of preferential treatment to relatives. Of course, we all could benefit from Senate proactive inputs on solving the national problem of inflation. Initial reports have a forthcoming executive order focusing on opening our gates to imports of fish, rice and sugar. The Senate is being prodded on the Rice Tariffication bill. We would welcome the senator’s critical eye on these measures. Curiously, there is no mention of any kind of action on excise taxes on fuel which to many is a key trigger of this jack in the box. 

Golden chances. The nation continues to be enthralled and humbled by our champion women golfers, Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Go. From their Asiad display of pluck, determination and steadiness that won us the golds, to their latest expression of humility, sacrifice and patriotism in rejecting their millions in cash bonanzas, in favor of the country’s amateur golfing program. This won them our hearts. Saso alone is foregoing approximately P10 million in prize incentives. For a sport supposed to be dominated by products of the elite, these golfers’ selfless example shows that not even the demarcations of economic stratification can withstand the unifying ingredient of national pride.

This narrative has permeated even our professional athletes’ ranks. Cleveland Cavalier Jordan Clarkson placed a lucrative career in NBA on the line for team and country. The same goes for the less heralded Fil-Euro players of our national football team led by EPL standout Neil Etheridge. This is a stark contrast to the behavior we’ve witnessed in other high profile international sports, most recently in women’s tennis, where some individual players believe themselves bigger than the game. 

Recently, Clarkson and the Chinese NBA players delivered the world to Asia. Now, Japan’s Naomi Osaka has brought Asia to the world. At the US Open women’s final, hers was a magnificent show of hard hitting, technically excellent and unsettlingly poised tennis. She is the first Japanese and only the second Asian woman to win a tennis grand slam tournament after the great Li Na of China, winner of French and Australian opens. On the men’s tour, we have Kei Nishikori of Japan, former world No. 4 and US Open finalist. From Southeast Asia, Thailand’s Paradorn Srichapan was a world No. 9 in his time. Nishikori is coached by former French Open champion, American of Asian ethnicity, Michael Chang.