EDITORIAL - Just bodyguards

This early, reelected Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is confident that the emerging “Duterte bloc” in the Senate will get more than enough votes to acquit Vice President Sara Duterte in her upcoming impeachment trial.

“I am confident of an acquittal because we are seeing our non-allies changing their stand. The numbers are growing as far as our side is concerned,” Senator Dela Rosa was quoted as saying in an online news report.

With Senator Dela Rosa in this bloc are Senators Robinhood Padilla, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, and senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta. There are rumors they are now eyeing others to recruit to their bloc, as well as to influence who will become Senate president.

We all know politics is a numbers game, but just allow us to remind Dela Rosa, et al, that they are public servants above all else. Because they have been elected a senator of the republic --and we really wonder how some of them keep coming back even with their lackluster performance-- they have a duty to uphold that should supersede their loyalty toward any one person or family.

They were elected not as defenders of a dynasty or a fellow official but as legislators whose loyalty should be to the Constitution first and foremost. Failing this then they are just bodyguards. Glamorously paid, no doubt, and with all the perks of higher office, but still bodyguards nonetheless.

There is nothing wrong with being doggedly loyal; in fact this is a good trait in not just politicians but in every person, even those who are far removed from high office. But loyalty to someone else should end where your responsibilities as a legislator begins.

If you ignore the evidence in front of you or fail to do your duty as a public official just because you feel you owe someone or an entire clan something, then something is wrong.