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Opinion

Don't vote for popularity, vote for competence

WHAT MATTERS MOST - Atty Josephus Jimenez - The Freeman

The distinct advantage of the actors, comedians, boxing and basketball champions, and TV hosts over Law deans and decent professionals is that TV and radio personalities are excessively popular. Legal experts are unknown, boring, and remote. But do think about it: we are hiring lawmakers and only legal experts know the job.

We should select those who know how to make laws because that is the job. When it comes to lawmaking, the well-established models in Philippine political history were Senators Claro M. Recto, Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, Lorenzo Tañada, Jose W. Diokno, Jovito Salonga, Arturo Tolentino, Ambrosio Padilla, Francisco Rodrigo, Jose P. Laurel, Raul Manglapus, Manuel Manahan, Quintin Paredes, Emmanuel Pelaez, Carlos P. Garcia, Ramon Mitra, and that audacious dissenter from Iloilo, Rodolfo Ganzon.

Later we have had really good and competent legislators like Ninoy Aquino, Ed Angara, Neptali Gonzales, Nene Pimentel, Heherson Alvarez, Teofisto Guingona, Wigberto Tañada, Rene Saguisag, Raul Roco, Dick Gordon and, of course, one of the best, Franklin Drilon, Sonny Angara, Chiz Escudero, and even my greatest disappointment Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano just to honor their late father, Rene Cayetano.

We did have great women senators like Geronima Pecson, Pacita Madrigal Warns, Maria Kalaw Katigbak, Eva Kalaw, Tecla Ziga (the first female Bar topnotcher), Helen Benitez, Letty Ramos-Shahani, Santanina Rasul, Magnolia Antonino, Nikki Coseteng, Jamby Madrigal, and later Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, and the greatest were Miriam Defensor Santiago and Leila de Lima.

History tells us that there were Muslim Filipinos who proved to be competent legislators, like Hadji Butu in 1922, Jamalul Kiran II in 1931, Alauya Alonto in 1941, Salipada Pendatun in 1946, Domocao Alonto in 1955, Mamintal Tamano in 1969, Santanina Rasul in 1987. I would love to see another Muslim in the Senate.

There were good senators from Cebu like Vicente Rama, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Manuel C. Briones, Filemon and Vicente Sotto, and a guy from the south, Santiago Lucero. Cebu sent to the Senate such good lawmakers like Rene Espina, Marcelo Fernan, Ernesto Herrera, Sergio Osmeña Jr., Serge Osmeña III, and John H. Osmeña.

Then they started bringing in the actors, TV hosts, sports personalities Rogelio de la Rosa, and later Eddie Ilarde, Orly Mercado (but he was good) and Loren Legarda (the best), Freddie Webb (no comment), Ramon Revilla Sr., Robert Jaworski, Noli de Castro, Joseph Estrada, and later, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, Manny Pacquiao, Raffy Tulfo, Lito Lapid and, my God, of all people, Robinhood Padilla.

But let us not judge them because they are actors or that they are TV or sports personalities. Let us judge them because none of them has written a landmark legislation as Recto, Diokno, or Laurel. They are just embellishments and decorations. They amuse the people but never ennoble their lives.

We need expert parliamentarians who have mastery of the Philippine Constitution as well as the familiarity with the structures of government. We also need people who know by heart the nuances of international law and the ins and outs of geopolitics. We should be looking out for competent men and women who have social conscience, who know the social and economic developments of our country and people. If the actors have all these, then we may consider them too.

We should junk all those who are of their kind. We have enough jesters in government. Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada and all are enough. Let us not bring back Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, or add Willy Revillame and the Tulfos. We should stop the trend to make the Philippine Senate deteriorate into a big house of jokes.

Remember that the Philippines is now the laughing stock in ASEAN, we are being whispered around as the best illustration of losing greatness, courtesy of our so-called leaders. If we cannot be great again as yet, we should at least refuse to be insulted and laughed at by our neighbors in this part of the world.

LAW

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