EDITORIAL – Finally, an attempt to rein in Jamby

It would be interesting to find out how Jamby Madrigal is taking the brickbats coming her way, not from ordinary mortals who have been helpless victims of her congressional abuse, but from members of the same legislature to which she belongs.

Senators and congressmen alike, and from both sides of the political spectrum at that, have taken Madrigal to task for her excesses, in particular her unwarranted insistence on some obscure right at the Commission of Appointments.

It seems that Madrigal has the propensity to stop all deliberations on appointments by invoking the seldom-used Section 20 of the CA rules. Section 20 is used sparingly because it allows a member to stop deliberations just like that, even for no apparent reason.

Clearly, Madrigal wants to stall deliberations if they involve people she does not like or if they belong to the “ other side. “ Such tactics appear to suit her fine, judging from her similar behavior during congressional hearings.

Madrigal has developed the knack for putting people down, even if these people are supposed to be guests who must be afforded the courtesy of keeping their dignity. These people are not suspects in a crime but resource persons sought for their views.

She also has the tendency to shoot from the hip, as in that “ FG “ fiasco over which she never even bothered to apologize. But then, what can anyone expect from somebody born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

But all is not lost. At least her very own colleagues in the legislature, including a few from the very same opposition group in which she run, have finally gathered the courage to try and tackle the runaway bull to the ground.

Madrigal is still young. Given the kind of money at her disposal to spend for reelection, she can expect more long years in the Senate. But she must learn to behave, or else not even all her money can buy back those who have been turned off by her attitude.