Why are lawyers in the Senate being marginalized?

The Philippine Senate has always been known as the chamber of legal luminaries, the home of experienced parliamentarians and the institution where legal and constitutional wisdom resides. After all, this is the home of the likes of Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tañada, Jovito Salonga, Arturo Tolentino, Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Ambrocio Padilla, and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Today, the Senate is the home of senators Robinhood Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, and Raffy Tulfo. Robinhood is in-charge of changing the fundamental law of the land. Wow. The very important committee on constitutional amendments, which is a very delicate and highly-demanding task, and which requires the legal minds of experts in constitutional and political law, hasn’t been assigned to the lawyers. There is Koko Pimentel, Bar Topnotcher and former Senate president like his late father. There is the former Speaker of the House Alan Peter Cayetano, excellent alumnus of Ateneo Law, and Pia, his elder sister from UP Law. There is Francis Tolentino, another lawyer, and the famous son of a famous father. Sonny Angara, son of Ed, former UP president and founder of the famed ACCRA law firm. But the one chosen to tinker with our fundamental law is Robinhood Padilla. What is happening to our country, General Bato de la Rosa?

Senate President, Migz Zubiri isn’t a lawyer. Tito Sen wasn’t a lawyer himself. And the most famous non-lawyer who held that post was the iconic Eulogio Rodriguez. He was doing well and the nation didn’t have any problem with him. Today's Senate pro tempore isn’t a lawyer, Loren Legarda, but she’s an outstanding parliamentarian with passionate advocacies. She could have been the best vice president of our country, much better than Noli de Castro and Jojo Binay. Today's majority leader isn’t a lawyer either, the one who claims to be the TESDAman, Joel Villanueva. These three posts don’t require a lawyer. But to head the committee on constitutional amendments, my God, why is this assigned to a neophyte senator whose experience is as an action star and comedian?

What's wrong with Senator Alan Peter? He has the credentials, experience, and credibility. He can explain fundamental law without batting an eyelash from the Preamble to the Transitory Provisions. He has a full grasp of the definition of the national territory and the Bill of Rights. He understands police power, eminent domain, and taxation. Alan Peter can argue with anyone even before the UN or the US Congress. Can Robinhood do that? Alan Peter is a graduate of De La Salle, UP, and Ateneo. He has impeccable credentials. Why did Zubiri opt for Robinhood instead of Cayetano? The answer is obvious. Alan Peter was and still is anti-BBM. And Zubiri obviously does not want to displease the Palace. His Senate presidency is at stake. Just one signal from Malacañang and he will be replaced.

And why not Chiz Escudero, the lawyer who could argue on anything and everything under the sun? A distinguished UP Law alumnus, a member of the prestigious Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity, a member of the UP Law Honor Society, and a champion debater. He knows the Constitution by heart. He is also acceptable to the Palace because he’s a son of Salvador Escudero, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s Agriculture secretary. Or, if Zubiri wants a true ally of the administration, Sonny Angara. Sonny is a graduate of London School of Economics and earned his master’s degree in Law from Harvard University. He could have been the best chairman of constitutional amendments.

Why is the senate president too enamored with Robinhood Padilla instead? We understand that Migz Zubiri does not really like Koko Pimentel either, although they both come from Region 10. They both speak the same Cuano language. In fact, they were supposedly related. But they had political conflicts in the past concerning contested election results, which led to the untimely resignation of Zubiri from the Senate. We also understand that Migz is not very close to Pia Cayetano, a brilliant lawyer from UP. And Migz is wary of Francis Tol because this guy is the most probable aspirant for the Senate presidency if Cynthia Villar would not like to sit on the chair which used to be occupied by her husband Manny.

And so, we have a Senate where lawyers are being set aside, ignored, and marginalized, and not properly given the tasks apropos to their professions. And the people end up being disadvantaged. That is Philippine Politics 101 for you.