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The decision by the three Senate committees
investigating the national broadband network (NBN) row to close the
hearings is good news for the public. But it would not be welcome
for people like Mr. Rodolfo Lozada whose main forum nowadays has
shifted to the courts.
The public debate is now focused
on two more urgent and relevant issues—food and energy issues.
Notice that the hearing on Monday by the Joint Congressional Power
Commission on Meralco was more substantial, compared to the lengthy
hearings by the Blue Ribbon committee on the broadband issue.
It is of course bad for Mr.
Lozada who has lost a springboard for national exposure, another
setback for the potential star who has complained of a conspiracy to
block his “search for truth.”
The Senate under President Manny
Villar may have read the public pulse correctly. Another proof of
Senate maturity is its decision to attend meetings of the
Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council. Maybe it has its
own monitoring system which saw waning interest in the grandstanding
of our solons and the hidden agenda of the witnesses they have
mobilized. These personalities include witnesses like businessman
Leo San Miguel who did not play to a script.
We are impressed by the candor
and self-criticism made by Blue Ribbon chair Sen. Alan Peter
Cayetano. He was quoted as saying that the broadband investigation
could not directly link the Palace to the scam. That statement may
have been difficult to say, coming from a senior member of the
opposition.
Happily, we won’t have to spend
precious taxpayer money anymore on vaudevilles that do not bring
food to our tables. These are times of crisis, you know. The NBN
probe had provided us with sufficient distraction from that time
when the peso was stronger, when the fuel was cheaper and the stock
markets were bullish.
With the Senate closing its book
on the NBN row, Lozada loses another stage and spotlight. The NBN
probe by the Senate showcased Lozada at his best: sobbing,
wisecracking and subtly poking fun at the officials he accused of
conspiring to kidnap him.
At one time, Lozada threatened to
bolt the Catholic Church after the Catholic Bishop Conference of the
Philippines came out with that controversial pastoral letter which
nixed the call for the President to step down. That move came on the
heels of a rebuff from the rector of the University of Santo Tomas
who told Lozada to respect the processes.
Then came that tirade against
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Lozada branded the archbishop’s flock as
the “Archdiocese of Malacañang,” a criticism that is hurting an
institution that keeps its political neutrality. And the disrespect
happened in Cebu where the religious wondered what right Lozada had
to mock a religious leader.
Trust the people
If you think of Metro Manila
police chief Geary Barias as simply a pleasant officer with a ready
smile or as the tough psywar specialist in the Peninsula
Incident—you are only half-correct. Barias also has a theory about
the operations of police forces and how they differ from the regular
army.
According to Barias, a policeman
should start his day with an attitude of trust towards the people.
Otherwise, he could not keep peace and order. That is the philosophy
behind Mamang Pulis which he is trying to popularize with Chief
Avelino Razon.
On the other hand, the
armyman’s mind is one of fighting the enemy—of constant alert to
defend the country from terrorists who may attack any minute. That
is why it is hard to mix the work of the army and the police. The
army is ready is to shoot enemies while the police cherish the
civilians.
BRIEF NOTES. After getting bad
publicity in the last Senate JPC hearings last Monday, Meralco is
coming up with an active media plan. Mr. Oscar Lopez, the chairman
of Meralco, has started with an open letter to President Arroyo. On
Saturday at the Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel, Meralco is sending a team of
executives that includes Meralco director Christian Monsod,
treasurer Rafael Andrada and Ms. Ivan de la Pena, VP for business
economics. They will be accompanied by VP Elpi Cuna. In the field of
spokesmanship, the main asset of the government in the war with
Meralco is GSIS vice president for legal matters Ms. Estrellita
“Star” Elamparo. The good-looking lawyer impressed old and young
newsmen at the Kapihan last Saturday, with her grasp of issues
involving GSIS shares in Meralco. I am sure she will be tapped by
the GSIS when the Meralco stockholders meet on May 27 this year. Mr.
Silvestre Bello was chosen Cabinet secretary because of his
independence from political and business groups. In short, his
loyalty to the President is assured, according to my sources in the
Palace. The House and the Senate may investigate the return of
Meralco shares to the Lopezes after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. Sen.
Juan Ponce Enrile hinted this in an interview on Channel 7 on
Tuesday.
jules42na@yahoo.com
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