Sunday, July 01, 2007 Malilong: A misfit in the Senate? By Frank Malilong The Other Side
HIS victory at the May polls is nothing short of phenomenal but it would be most unfortunate if Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV lets it get into his head. Coming out of the darkness of jail with, to quote the Inquirer, “guns blazing,” may be the macho thing to do but it hardly assuages the fears of those who think that he may be a misfit in the Senate.
Trillanes should bear in mind that he is a senator of the Republic, not merely of those who, having found his caper romantic or despising the administration, voted for him. He can take a hint or two from another freshman member of the upper chamber, Allan Peter Cayetano. A vocal critic of the Arroyo government, Cayetano has said that while he was not abandoning his stance, he was willing to cooperate with the President on matters that are good for the nation.
Indeed, the people expect--–and deserve--–a Senate of statesmen, not of rabble-rousers and troublemakers. That does not necessarily require conformity or compromise but plain and simple awareness and understanding of the demands of membership of an exalted institution in terms of demeanor and decorum.
Calling someone a “cheat” is poor conduct even if done by a fishwife (with apologies to the latter). It was an outburst that we did not expect from Trillanes, who trained for four years to be an officer and a gentleman. What aggravates the fact is that the object of the former navy officer’s venom is someone who could be his colleague. Is the name-calling portentous of the days to come in the hallowed halls of the Senate?
What is ironic about Trillanes’ diatribe, which was made, no doubt in the heat of the heart-stopping battle for the 12th Senate slot contested in the last elections, is that the parties themselves have been civil with each other.
Whatever evil thoughts Juan Miguel Zubiri and Aquilino Pimentel III may harbor against each other, they have so far confined to themselves.
Indeed, special mention should be made of the two young politicians and the admirable manner that they have comported themselves in the face of what could be the most grueling experience so far in their political career. I hope that Trillanes’ unfortunate remark would not contaminate Pimentel and Zubiri and eliminate all civility between them.
As for Trillanes, I hope that he grows out of the world that his adoring fans have fenced him in, that of the swashbuckling hero who slays all his enemies.
Being a senator of the Republic carries an awesome burden and woe unto him who enters into office carrying tons of baggage.
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One of the annoying things frequently mentioned in connection with the House leadership struggle is that our Rep. Pablo Garcia (2nd Dist.) is banking on the President’s support because he and his family were responsible for her resounding win in Cebu in 2004.
In fairness to all, neither Noy Pabling nor any member of his family has made such claim, which is not accurate anyway. The truth is that no Cebuano political leader can claim sole credit for Mrs. Arroyo’s landslide victory. She won because all the political families of consequence in Cebu like the Gullases, the Duranos, the Osmenas, the Martinezes, the Yaphas and, of course, the Garcias supported her. That’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
