Lobaton: Rationality in politics

WE CAN learn something from the recent change of leadership of the lower house from Allan Peter Cayetano to the new speaker, Lord Allan Velasco. Both are known supporters of President Duterte.

The president was known to have helped forge the 15-21 agreement. At that time when Congress was about to be polarized by the two aspiring leaders, Cayetano and Velasco, with the intercession of the president, arrived at the agreement that for the first 15 months, Cayetano will serve as the speaker and the remaining 21 months for Velasco.

However, what makes the future exciting is the fact that the remaining months for Velasco would be crucial for someone who looks at the future of the 2022 elections. In short, it could help propel someone if he aspires for the presidency—something imminent in the actions of Cayetano.

On the part of the Filipino people, many seemed to judge at the surface level the struggle of the two leaders. Time and again, it created division among those who believe in the sentiment of groups aligned with either of the two leaders. It is also apparent that many failed to see exactly the things that led to this type of dynamic process.

It appears that ordinary Filipino is alienated from the truth particularly on matters that touch the technicality of laws and reasons. It is on this that public engagement is set aside and given only to those who actually limit the discourses among themselves.

To recall, the group of now Speaker Velasco invoked rationality by way of honoring their gentleman’s agreement. Only something they noticed that Cayetano’s group attempted to dishonor the known agreement brokered by the president.

It makes one ponder the different twist in which the language of politics is now framed in the minds of the congressmen. They want to portray a new legitimacy by approving the budget in the lower chamber. Hence, Speaker Velasco could be right that change is necessary for response to the call of the president for a special session.

This is how politics works in this country. One has to appreciate its fluid nature, whose rules may change depending on undefined consequences.

It is just unfortunate on the part of Cayetano that the tide favored Velasco. The decision to honor the “agreement” was pursued and the rationality in politics, this time did not create an awkward situation but establish a rallying point for political actions.

For now, we can continue to observe their dynamics and see how things will move in the coming months up to the elections in 2022.

Meanwhile, my former colleague at the city government, Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, forwarded to me the reminder of the city government that October 19 is no longer a public holiday.

Mayor Bing Leonardia announced that the city’s official charter day is on June 18 after the president signed into law the Republic Act 11146 last November 9, 2018. Thus, today, Monday would be a normal working day here in the city.