Battle of snubs

THERE is an ongoing battle in our government these days between Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and some senators.

The case stemmed from the investigation called by Santiago to enlighten her on the alleged involvement of Deputy Secretary of DILG Rico Puno in the purchase of millions of firearms. The supposed probe she initiated failed because the senators involved, to her own words, snubbed it. And although Puno was there and some other people, the same could not be had because of lack of appearance by the senators concerned.

In the Senate session that followed days later, the lady senator did not appear also, snubbing in the process the senate meeting. Her reason was to show to the public that her non-appearance is in response to the snubbing by the senators of the probe he initiated. Of course, it does not look nice but Santiago has reasons to be unhappy about. Her anger is normal.

So thus the existing of a war between people on the issue of snubbing. In my mind, they may have all reasons to engage themselves in such a skirmish but I still believe it is not proper. The misunderstanding and battle of wits actually victimized the general taxpayers because normal work in the senate is imperiled. The things that could have been done, had not been done which is directly or indirectly, a waste of time, effort and cash.

In the instant cases, for instance, how much time, effort and money were lost because the two important activities of the government were not held or failed to act on some important matters for the failures of the warring factions to appear? It is really bad for the people who could not be helped on something for such failures.

Of course, this is a clear game of politics. This is politics played in a wrong time at a wrong place. The side effect is the failure in government to do good things for the taxpayers. This is where we come in because we are hurt. We succumbed to a certain extent in this particular incident. It is we who are victims of such an ugly battle.

I suggest a new legislation punishing senators and other parties who will engage in battles of pride and emptiness be punished. They should know that the people are hurt and therefore the warring groups should be punished. Maybe they should be reprimanded and/or suspended. They are supposed to be lawmakers and they should follow the laws of the land first before the poor taxpayers.