Senate doing its job

Many people have been critical of the Senate. Some have gone as far as claiming that the investigations being conducted in the Senate are not in aid of legislation but for destabilization. In the current swirling political controversy over charter change, many have criticized the Senate simply because it has not allowed itself to be stampeded into supporting the proposal to adopt a parliamentary form of government with a unicameral legislative body.

The fact is that there are two sides to that controversy and it would be unfair to say that senators are adopting the position that would promote their self-interest. If that were so, then the same should be said of the members of the House of Representatives and officials of the Executive branch. This issue must be decided objectively. Both national and local interests are represented in the legislature so there must be a balance between the two. In the United States, for instance, a presidential form of government with a bicameral legislature composed of a lower house and a senate has been in effect for the past 250 years. Today, it is the most powerful and richest country in the world that has survived not only a civil war but two World Wars. Our system was based on theirs since the Commonwealth period and it gave us stability and progress until President Marcos declared martial law and suddenly shifted to a semi-parliamentary form of government.

Many accusations were hurled against Senate President Franklin Drilon during the heated discussions over cha-cha. Why should it be looked upon as obstructionism if the investigation is conducted by the Senate and not the Lower House?

In the course of the budget hearings, there were probes on alleged excesses and anomalies in the government. This is part of the check and balance principle of the Constitution, under which the three branches of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are equal and independent of each other.

Since we achieved our independence in 1946, the Senate has been a bastion of political independence. We have had outstanding statesmen like Claro M. Recto, Jose P. Laurel, Jose Diokno and Lorenzo Tañada championing the people’s freedom. It was not till Marcos declared martial law that we became the second poorest country in Asia.

We must stop equating opposition and criticism with destabilization and obstructionism. It is through their elected members in Congress and the Palace that the people can see their aspirations realized. The Senate should be the reflection of the people’s voice and aspirations in the higher chamber of our legislature.