Saturday, August 04, 2007 Libre: More years of 'politics as usual' By Mel Libre Seriously Now
AND so it was that senior politician Pablo Garcia lost in his bid to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
His supporters did not even cast their votes to show their indignation at the "railroading" of the election process. The 159-0 vote for the longest serving House Speaker, Jose de Venecia did not go well with Garcia and his supporters. He and his son, Pablo John, walked out and did not care to return to listen to President Arroyo deliver her State of the Nation Address.
A veteran in many political skirmishes, Garcia just could not outmaneuver the well-entrenched de Venecia, who was the President's most loyal ally when the latter was threatened twice with impeachment.
Garcia belongs to the "old school" or traditional politics. He knows Philippine politics like the palm of his hand, having associated himself early in his career with the political warlord Ramon Durano, Sr. and having worked his way successfully under Corazon Aquino and succeeding presidents.
When I was preparing to be trainor for volunteers of the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Pabling was our resource person on understanding the techniques used in vote buying and ways to counter it. His inputs were very helpful for many volunteers.
I do remember him as being present most of the time during the canvassing of the election returns at the Provincial Capitol in the contest between Ferdinand Marcos and Aquino. I presumed he was there to ensure, through his presence, that the outcome would reflect the true will of the people of Cebu. Cory lost in Cebu province by a slight margin.
In his battle against de Venecia, Garcia was up against the personification of a traditional politician, or "tradpol." A political chameleon of the highest pedigree, de Venecia worked with Marcos and refurbished his image during the Aquino years until he formed the "Rainbow Coalition," which is a grouping for convenience of politicians who do not stand for any ideology or principles but for their own survival.
With his "outstanding" work as Speaker, de Venecia has weathered many challenges and Pabling's losing bid only reiterated JDV's appeal among his peers in Congress and his friends in Malacañang.
To dramatize his strength, de Venecia had another politician of his own mold slay Garcia's challenge. Antonio Cuenco, Cebu City-North representative, was the dagger that stabbed Garcia in the back.
In the pre-Martial Law years, Cuenco was a niño bonito politician, having fought Marcos in the old Congress. But when he ran under Marcos' KBL against the Pusyon Bisaya (of Talyux Bacalso and Hilario Davide, Jr.), it was clear that he would do anything just to keep himself in politics. It was not surprising, therefore, or Cuenco to do the role as dictated by de Venecia.
Certainly, Tony will have the chairmanship of whatever committee he deems will put him in the public limelight. But while Cuenco may become one of the longest serving congressmen of Cebu, I am certain that when he ends his career he will be remembered as just another politician, never as a statesman.
If there is any lesson to be learned from the conduct of our legislators in electing the Speaker it is that the Filipino people are in for another three years of "politics as usual." I believe that this latest exercise simply reveals that our elected representatives are not ready for a parliamentary form of government. Only when our politicians are be rooted in ideologies should the idea of a Parliament be ever dealt with.
Pablo Garcia lost. Had he won, it still would not matter anyway.
