Dictatorship in legislation, democracy in implementation

The problem with our country is that legislation, policy-making, and planning are dictated by one person or an elite group of controlling interests, and passed by a rubber stamp Congress. Then when implementation comes, all voices want to be heard. We reversed the essence of democracy. The result is always chaos, confusion and disgruntlement. The government is hated. And the people are angry.

Citizen participation and democratic debates and argumentations should be done at the time when policies are being formulated. We elected brilliant senators because we believe they have the vision and the wide grasp of world and national issues. They are expected to talk of foreign affairs, national security, economic development, and all the strategic imperatives and long-range plans for the nation and for the people. Senators who do not talk at all, much less open their mouths in plenary deliberations or committee hearings for whatever reason, but may be good at execution or implementation, should transfer from the legislature to the executive departments. I refer to such illustrious men like senators Manny Pacquaio, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, Bong Go, and Bato de la Rosa. Their competence is more needed in the agencies tasked with the execution of government plans and strategies. They may not be contributing much to the task of legislation. But they will most probably excel in the operation of line agencies.

The problem with our country is that we vote for people who are not really fit for their positions. They are good, maybe, but their competencies are needed elsewhere. For instance, since Atty. Mike Rama is an excellent debater, an erudite strategic thinker, and an eloquent orator like his late grandfather, I strongly believe that he should be in Congress. The whole country will be immensely benefited if he should be in Congress.

The problem with our country is that we elect legislators who cannot talk, and we put executives in the LGU who are exuberant talkers, who are vociferous in their oral prowess. I think it is the voters who are really the source of the original sin. And so, we have a Congress that is noted for railroading legislative measures, for passing laws without sufficient plenary debates and committee deliberations. The Speaker and the majority floor leaders are always herding the congressmen like meek lambs following the whistles of the leadership. The quality of  legislation by Congress today, both in the Senate and in the House, is far  too inferior to the glorious days of Don Filemon Sotto, Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Don Sergio Osmeña  and Don Vicente Rama. We do not have anyone who could hold a candle to the caliber of Jovito Salonga, Arturo Tolentino, Jose W Diokno, Lorenzo Tañada, not even like Miriam Defensor Santiago or Marcelo Fernan and Hilario G Davide Jr.

And so, laws are hurriedly being passed in this country, especially if urgently certified by Malacañang. The honorable congressmen seem to be “bulag, pipi at bingi.” The Makabayan bloc, which wants to fiscalize, is tagged as reds. And they become silent and meek while still being paid the same perks and privileges. No democracy in legislation. But when implementation times come, the thousands of little Indians in the LGUs would not stop with their endless loquacious comments and criticisms, and their politically-colored opinions, ad infinitum, and ad nauseam. All regional directors who are supposed to follow the chains of command would have their own views which are silently opposed by the division chiefs and the section heads. That is why we need little autocrats in the executive departments like Dick Gordon and Bato de la Rosa and action-oriented guys like Bong Go and Manny Pacquiao to run our agencies. I just do not know where to put Bong Revilla because, as an HR professional, I still have to discover what really is his legislative or executive talent, except to act and to dance.

Here, in this cradle of noble heroes, in this Pearl of the Orient Seas, when competent legislative materials like Serge Osmeña and Chel Diokno aim to run for the Senate again, they will most likely land in the 17th or 21st slots. Venerable stars like Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid and Manny Pacquiao will be in the Magic 12, anointed by the sovereign Filipino people. And so the people have no right to complain if we have this kind of government. We rightfully deserve the officials we put in high places. My God, I suddenly have a bad headache. Lord, have mercy on the Philippines. I want to migrate to Timbuktu.