Friday, July 20, 2007 Editorials: House of Representatives in a bind
WHAT seems to be a simple matter for a new Congress to do---organize itself for the duration of its three-year term—has become some kind of an agonizing travail.
At no other time in our recent history has the House of Representatives been placed in a situation it has not experienced before.
This is a result of the diminished significance of the political party in the country’s scheme of governance.
Today, anyone who aspires for an elective public office may do so alone or with a like-minded group and mount a campaign, but not necessarily as a political party.
House Speaker
Consequently, as the 14th Congress moves closer to the date it should start its work, the House has two members of President Arroyo’s coalition seeking the post of speaker.
The incumbent speaker, Jose de Venecia, is seeking a fifth term but is challenged by Cebuano Pablo Garcia for the post.
A seasoned politician from Pangasinan province, de Venecia claims he already has some “183 representatives in the pocket.”
Understandably, he is against the move to choose the speaker through secret balloting.
The House majority leader defends the move by saying that “secrecy is the cover for turncoats.”
This indicates that de Venecia’s claimed supporters may not be solidly loyal to him.
Swing vote
The House reportedly has 180 congressmen who compose the majority coalition while some 32 others are in the opposition.
Ironically, while the coalesced lawmakers are said to be united, yet they are “thinly divided,” with “100 and 80” in favor of either contender.
As a result, the 32 opposition congressmen, who thus represent a worrisome swing vote, are griping about the House rule that whoever comes out second in the voting for speaker will automatically become minority leader.
There is thus the possibility that the minority head will come from ruling coalition and not from the genuine opposition.
That is not acceptable to the latter.
Amendment
Hence, the opposition is hedging on its vote, seeing the possibility of forcing the issue or seeking an amendment to the House rules to adapt to the changing realities of politics in the Philippines.
The problem is that the House rules can’t be changed without first electing a speaker.
And will the genuine opposition agree to have either secret or open balloting without first settling their gripe?
