A vital task no senator should abandon - JAYWALKER by Art A. Borjal

We have to distinguish between the expected impeachment trial of President Estrada and the mounting call for him to resign. These are two different and separate things. While both are under the purview of the Constitution, they are not one and the same thing. This distinction is important in the light of the suggestion that some senators should inhibit themselves from the impeachment trial, for their alleged demonstration of bias, for or against President Estrada.

* * *

Take, for instance, the participation of several senators in the prayer rally at the EDSA Shrine. Some say that these senators should be banned from the impeachment trial on the ground that they participated in the call for President Estrada to resign. But then, the "resign" call has no connection at all with the impeachment trial.

* * *

The appeal for the President to resign was, for some senators who joined the plea, apparently aimed at putting a stop to the economic crisis that has gripped our country. In other words, the senators called for resignation, not because President Estrada has already been found guilty of the charges lodged against him but because they want to save the tottering economy.

* * *

Senator Nikki Coseteng, who resigned from the LAMP coalition, put it very clearly. "How can I be biased when not a single piece of evidence has yet been presented?" Nikki asked. In other words, she has not expressed any sentiment on any possible evidence taken up at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings, but merely asked clarificatory questions.

* * *

Senator Raul Roco also had a good explanation on why no senator should be banned from the impeachment trial. It is only when the impeachment trial begins, after the senators take their oath as jurors, that they temporarily lose their identity as senators. That will be the time, Raul said, when they, as jurors, will use their own individual conscience in evaluating the evidences to be formally presented before them. Before a single shred of evidence is presented by the prosecution panel, how can there be prejudgment of the case against the President? Good question.

* * *

What is worrisome is the issue of President Estrada’s ability to govern effectively, in the light of all the serious charges filed against him. Considering that almost all of the major business organizations and federations have called for his resignation, how can the President effectively govern? Note that effective governance involves dealing closely with the captains of trade and industry. And with his isolation from the business community, fueled most probably by the "rich versus poor" strategy originally adopted by Malacañang strategists as a damage control measure, how can there be that government-private sector partnership which is such a vital factor in effective governance?

* * *

As I had been saying over and over again in previous columns, it is the economic crisis – the possibility of an economic collapse – that is the mortal enemy of President Estrada. And the economic crisis or economic collapse can only be aborted if the raging political problem, which involves the President’s ability to govern, is resolved at the earliest possible time.

* * *

Yesterday, in an early morning CNN newscast, the global network flashed the result of what it claimed as a "Quick Poll" conducted among its viewers. The question asked was: "Do you think that President Estrada is guilty?" referring to the Impeachment Complaint filed against him. According to CNN, the result was: 85 percent YES, 15 percent NO. I wonder who were the people, or sectors, polled by CNN.

* * *

I cite the CNN newscast to underscore the world’s perception of the Philippines, based on the reports being filed by foreign media regarding our internal problems. According to a nongovernment organization called Kapatirang Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat, composed of Filipinos living and working overseas, the media reports have "seriously undermined our capacity to collectively solve our own problems." The NGO added that the reports "help ruin our economy, plunge the peso to record lows, erode investor confidence and shamed the new heroes of our economy, the Overseas Filipinos."

* * *

With the Christmas season fast approaching, I feel worried over the plight of the poor indigent children who will be staying in the charity wards of hospitals on Christmas Day. For the past eight years, I have been implementing a project called Operations Christmas Joy, as originally conceptualized by a kindhearted gentleman, Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Sr. And it was Dr. Chua Chiaco who, just before the advent of the Christmas season, would give an initial donation to start the ball rolling.

* * *

In implementing Operations Christmas Joy, I and the staff of the Good Samaritan Foundation visit the children’s charity wards of hospitals, especially those catering to the poor. There, we distribute toys, gifts and food items to the poor children confined there, hoping to ease their plight on what should be the happiest day of the year, Christmas Day. How successful we are, during all those years, in implementing Operations Christmas Joy, a project that many groups, like the HSBC, the Senate Ladies Foundation, the officials and employees of the DPWH, and various entities, helped support.

* * *

Last Monday, Dr. Chua Chiaco, a cardiologist who has retired from the active practice of his medical profession, called me up, asking me to continue implementing Operations Christmas Joy. It had been quite some time since I last heard from him, and I was glad to hear his lilting voice.

* * *

Dr. Chua Chiaco, who heads the Manuel Chua Chiaco Foundation Inc., asked my staff to pick up a check for P10,000 to be used specifically as seed money for Operations Christmas Joy. "These are hard times, but we have to continue bringing joy to the poor children confined in the hospitals," said Dr. Chua Chiaco.

* * *

I wonder if there will be several other generous people who will be willing to give a helping hand in implementing Operations Christmas Joy for this year 2000. Donations in cash and in kind, coursed through the Good Samaritan Foundation, will be much appreciated. For particulars, please contact Alex Dinoy, the executive director of the GSFoundation, at Tel. Nos. 716-1399 and 716-1499, or Unit 1-J RM Arcade, 80 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Quezon City, just beside the UERM Memorial Medical Center, and a corner away from SM Centerpoint. Thanks, and God bless!

* * *

Art A. Borjal’s e-mail address: <[email protected]>