How senators waste our money, time

The Senate spends P25 million a day.

Sherwin Gatchalian estimated the cost on June 2, amid the Senate’s 28-day leadership standoff. He lamented as erstwhile finance committee chairman:

“Every day ang Senate gumagastos ng P25 million sa kuryente, sa utilities, sa sweldo, pero walang session na nangyari. Walang batas o resolution na na-approve. Pati military personnel natin, hindi na-confirm ang promotion. Sayang ang bayad ng taong bayan sa atin.”

The standoff wasted P700 million. That’s from May 11 when 13 senators staged a coup to install Alan Cayetano as Senate President, to June 17 when things settled down with Gatchalian’s ascension.

Panfilo Lacson posted on X, June 18:

“The Philippine Senate in 28 days under Alan Cayetano: Estimated cost – P700M. Output – chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its ‘protective custody,’ session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator.

“What a waste of taxpayers’ money!”

VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will take 92 days. Senators had better use up the time wisely, attentively, studiously.

On Wednesday, July 8, the third hearing day, senators got the chance to question first witness, NBI special agent John Mark Calilung. Testifying for four hours the previous day and two hours that afternoon, he detailed that:

A 2016 law reorganized and modernized the NBI. It requires the agency to investigate motu proprio any threat against the President, VP, Senate President, House Speaker or Chief Justice.

He was assigned to investigate Sara’s Nov. 23, 2024 late-night livestream press conference during which she allegedly announced to assassinate President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez.

He first screen-recorded the livestream which was publicly available. He next secured an official copy from Meta, which runs Facebook. He reported it to his superiors. He executed an affidavit when summoned by the House committee on justice.

One interpolator was Robinhood Padilla.

Padilla: “Hindi po naibigay ‘yong original copy nu’ng isinagawang interview kay Vice President Sara Duterte? ‘Yong original po na kopya, kung sino po ‘yong nag-record? Wala po kayong affidavit? Meron po ba kayong affidavit na nakuha niyo?”

Calilung: “Yes, sir. Ako po ‘yong nag- ang inire-request po ng DOJ diyan is affidavit po nu’ng nag-screen record, which is my affidavit, Your Honor.”

Padilla: “Meron po siyang affidavit?”

Calilung: “Ako, sir. Ako po ‘yong nag-execute, sir.”

Padilla: “Kasi ‘di po ‘yong mismong tao.”

Calilung: “Yes po. Ang hinihingi po kasi ni DOJ is kung sino ‘yong nag-screen record through OBS [Open Broadcasting Software], sir.”

Padilla: “Hmm. Hindi po ‘yong mismong tao?”

Calilung: “Yes, Your Honor.”

Padilla: “Kayo lang po ‘yong nag-affidavit?”

Calilung: “Yes, Your Honor.”

Padilla: “Pero meron po kayong pagkakataon ba na nakausap niyo ‘yong tao at nagbigay siya ng affidavit?”

Calilung: “May I clarify, Your Honor, if sinong tao ‘yong tinutukoy?”

Padilla: “’Yong nag-record po.”

Calilung: “Ako po ‘yong nag-record through OBS, sir.”

Padilla: “Hindi po. ‘Yong mismong nag-record po kay Inday, sa Vice President. Nakausap niyo po ba? ‘Yong raw file. Kasi napakahalaga po no’n. Kasi doon natin malalaman kung original ba o hindi.”

Calilung: “The video itself, sir, is publicly available. That’s why I performed the recording, sir.”

Padilla: “Opo. Pakisagot na lang po, mahal na saksi, kung nakuha niyo ba ‘yong original. ‘Yong original, hindi po ‘yong galing sa internet.”

Calilung: “The original, no, sir.”

Padilla: “Okay. ‘Yon lamang po.”

Duh!

*      *      *

July 12 is the 10th anniversary of the Philippine victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It comes at a time of deep national division, surprise demonstrations and political standoffs.

Rafael Alunan, national security expert and former Cabinet member, views these as “highly favorable to Beijing.” He analyzes in his BusinessWorld column:

“Communist ?China aims to dismantle the administration’s foreign policy that integrates the US, Japan, Canada and Australia.

“Beijing doesn’t need a hot war. A government that’s too consumed by internal crises serves China’s strategic interests just as effectively. Principal groups and political entities act directly with Beijing’s regional objectives:

“(1) Populist Subversive Faction (Duterte bloc) – This is the most potent force aligning with Beijing’s interests. It campaigns to reverse the country’s pivot to the US and advocates a return to pro-Beijing policies of the previous admin.

“This faction frames the administration’s assertiveness in WPS as ‘warmongering’ and economically unstable.

“(2) Sectarian Front (Iglesia ni Cristo) – While INC is a religious institution, its front-facing political actors and rigid voting bloc have historically aligned with pro-Beijing politicos. A government forced to deploy police resources and political capital to manage a permit-less, top-down religious revolt is a government distracted from tracking aggressive gray-zone tactics on land, air and sea.

“(3) Localized Espionage – ?This consists of covert operations to manipulate local governments, control critical coastal real estate and establish intelligence-gathering outposts close to sensitive military areas.

“?Operating under the radar through illegal POGOs or local businesses, this network infiltrates municipal politics, subverts immigration and election laws and builds infrastructure for cyber-warfare and intelligence-gathering.

“(4) Ideological Propaganda and Media Echo Chamber – A network of local media personnel, commentators and pro-Beijing think tanks mirror Chinese state-media narratives to shape Filipino public opinion. Key entities include the Integrated Development Studies Institute, pro-Beijing columnists and digital troll networks.

“They propagate the idea that the Philippines is being used as a ‘pawn’ by western powers, amplify threats about economic ruin and downplay documented China Coast Guard aggressions as ‘neighbor misunderstandings.’

“By backing and defending politicians facing serious legal accountability, these groups function as proxies, using opportunistic anti-corruption rhetoric to cultivate a China-friendly narrative while causing a crisis of state legitimacy.”

*      *      *

Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8 to 10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM).

Follow me on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/Jarius-Bondoc