EDITORIAL- No way to treat a guest

Once again, not only the Filipino public but an international audience as well got treated to a display of arrogance the kind of which leaves a bad taste in the mouth when watching either house of Congress conduct an investigation.

Perhaps there is something in the assumption of a “judicial” air that makes senators or congressmen so high and mighty that they just cannot restrain themselves from scolding and insulting whoever happens to have the misfortune of getting invited to a congressional investigation.

Last Thursday, the Senate investigated the alleged “sex for flight” scandal in which displaced female OFWs in the Middle East sometimes allegedly get abused by Philippine diplomatic or consular officials who are supposed to help them. The scuttlebutt is that some would settle for sex in exchange for a ticket home.

It is of course good that the matter is being investigated. What is not good is that it is being investigated by the Senate which, just like the House, can do almost nothing about anything, as their own track records would show everyone.

The only thing either or both houses do and do so well is reduce their guests and resource persons to the last shred of their dignities. How is it that a senator or congressman who is as meek as a lamb during the campaign can turn into such a mean and angry solon during any investigation.

To be called “Your Honor” by the guests or resource persons must have a magical effect on the psyche of these people that they promptly begin to act as if they are the accusers, the judges, and the executioners all rolled into one.

They conveniently forget they are not in a hearing to find anyone guilty. Indeed the investigations are usually labeled in aid of legislation, meaning the inputs they gather are meant to help them create laws. They are not expected to antagonize anyone because in a congressional hearing, parties are always considered guests.

Thus, once again last Thursday, the labor attache to a Middle Eastern country was humiliated, scolded, and otherwise stripped off his dignity at the Senate despite the fact that he was invited as a guest and as a resource person to the issue at hand.