EDITORIAL - Anti-martial law sentiment gives way to self-interest

For all the anxiety and rhetoric expended against the imposition of martial law in the province of Maguindanao by President Arroyo, the Senate and the House of Representatives, sitting in joint session, appear to be in no particular hurry to revoke it.

For two days last Wednesday and Thursday, senators and congressmen squeezed the issue for whatever it was worth to them in precious minutes of live television coverage, knowing fully well that the longer they debate, the farther they will be from voting on the matter.

This is surprising because judging from the public statements senators and congressmen have made regarding martial law, it would appear that all of them have already made up their minds and are raring to put the matter to a vote in order to be done away with it quick.

But no. Instead of voting urgently on the matter, the senators and congressmen reverted back to their old habit of grandstanding before the cameras. And why not? If they can do it even during normal times, how much more when the air is electric with elections fast approaching.

There is no real urgency to address the issue. And even if there is, it is only secondary to the dire need for public exposure at this time. To be covered live on tv is equivalent to free commercial airtime worth several millions of pesos.

One sign of betrayal in favor of personal interests became apparent on the second day of the debates, Thursday December 10, when instead of resuming sessions at 2 p.m. as scheduled after adjourning on Wednesday, they resumed several hours later.

Another sign of betrayal was in setting the next scheduled hearing for December 14, or this coming Monday. This means the senators and congressmen are not willing to give up their weekend in favor of something as important and as urgent as martial law.

And to think their throats have virtually dried in the process of castigating the martial law measure. But as fish are caught by the mouth, so now we know all the opposition to martial law is just all talk.

For if our honorable senators and congressmen are truly against martial law, there would have been no need to debate the issue. They would have promptly gone to a vote to strike it down. But they prefer to debate, because to debate gets you covered on tv and quoted in the papers.