When the joke becomes the headline, we’ve missed the point

I understand the allure. It’s pop culture, it’s relatable and it can make discussions feel more accessible. Any other speech, or hearing, would have been fine. In fact, even I use my grandfather’s lines in my speeches, but this is NOT just any other committee hearing and that was my point.

I know for a fact that my colleagues meant no disrespect. In lighter hearings, a reference every now and then can even make proceedings more engaging. But when you are discussing the impeachment of the second highest official in the country, I believe it should be treated with a level of seriousness that reflects the weight of the moment, not just for her, but for the office she represents.

“Big talk from a guy whose party-list is a pop culture reference.” It’s a line I get often because my party-list is FPJ Panday Bayanihan. Yes, it is a nod to my grandfather and his legacy of selflessness, as well as his unfulfilled dream of public service. But while it is inspired by him, it does not stand for Fernando Poe Jr. It stands for food, progress and justice. If people had been paying attention over the past few weeks, they would see that I have been traveling the country, consulting farmers, fisherfolk, students and transport leaders to effectively bring their concerns into committee hearings, especially those tackling the fuel crisis.

Over the past few months, I have not missed an opportunity to represent the economically disadvantaged. I make it a point to listen, learn and speak on their behalf. So while I normally would not respond to trolls, I felt I could not simply sit this one out. There was a point to be made about professionalism, respect and decorum. I may represent FPJ Panday Bayanihan, but I do not come to committee hearings in a jean jacket.

My intention was never to call anyone out harshly. I merely wanted to gently remind my colleagues that these things matter. I did not even move to have the statement removed from the records because I recognize the effort to make the hearings relatable. But I also knew that it might overshadow the important discussion we were having. And sure enough, it became the headline. Not my line of questioning on national security concerns, or the teacher in 2018 who was arrested pending a similar investigation, but rather my comment about pop culture, Popoy and Piolo.

I was once asked by a colleague why I hardly smile during justice committee hearings. The answer is simple. This is a serious issue. No matter how you look at it, it is a serious and even sad matter to discuss. In one way or another, the Vice President is still our colleague, a fellow public official. We must be respectful and as fair as we can be, while still listening carefully to the evidence and making the right call. That is the only way we can stand by whatever decision we arrive at.

Let me be clear. I respect my colleagues, and I work closely with all of them. One or two lines might help capture attention, but once those lines become the headline, it defeats the purpose of the hearing. The focus should always remain on the evidence, the arguments and the constitutional duty we are sworn to carry out.

My intention in making that statement was simple. I wanted to remind everyone that beyond the trends and the hype, there is a standard that we must hold ourselves to. I know my colleagues to be professionals, and I know they did not mean any harm. But when the news becomes more about the joke than the substance, then we have missed the point.

I am aware that some will push back and say that certain political groups or personalities do not deserve that level of respect. I have heard the arguments. I have also experienced disrespect firsthand. But I believe that we must give the respect we wish to receive. Our conduct today sets the tone for how public service will be practiced tomorrow. If we lower the standard now, it will only become easier to do so again in the future.

Again, I’m not a stranger to using the catchy lines of my grandfather. They have their place, and I understand their power. But in this setting, it simply did not sit well with me. I was concerned that it might open the door to more lines being thrown back and forth, turning what should be a serious proceeding into something else entirely. It may seem like a small matter, but we have to remember that the whole world is watching, not just the nation.

As vice chair of the committee on justice, I want to be fair, professional and respectful at all times. I make it a point to shake the hand of every resource person and respondent because I come into these hearings without bias. That is part of my duty. So when I feel that something might undo the months of work we have put into these proceedings, it does not sit well with me.

These hearings are more than just moments for sound bites or headlines. We are debating the very essence of what it means to be a public servant. Every word we say, every action we take, contributes to how the public views not just the process, but the institution itself.

Every day I go to work, I am reminded that I carry the responsibility of representing the 538,003 Filipinos who placed their trust in me. I intend to honor that trust by doing my job with seriousness, fairness and respect. That includes respecting the institution I am part of, the committee I serve in and the process we are all sworn to uphold.