I have been dismayed at the behavior of some of our legislators during the free-for-all debate in Congress for the canvassing of votes by both the upper and lower chamber of the house. I was speechless, to say the least, over the raucous behavior of a single representative - although annoyed with the others who tried to defend him in his request to incarcerate a guest in the gallery - who threw fits because of some disdainful note. What unfolded in my eyes as I watch silently in front of the television was a scene that I know most, if not all, of you would agree to be an act which disgraces a most esteemed position in the land.
Let’s suppose that the action of the lady guest in giving the letter was really uncalled for and that she manifested downright disregard and disrespect towards the representative and the whole parliamentary process. This being the case despite the fact that what she did was an expression of exasperation over the unending litany of the representative over matters that are not yet supposed to be discussed on the floor. It may be the case that the lady was clearly out of order and has been gravely rude to the representative, but to start a commotion that would lead to the suspension and adjournment of a proceeding that is of national importance over something that is, in my opinion, a matter of personal interest, is to act in the most selfish and insolent way. Moreover, to get back to the lady in the gallery in a situation where in the representative has an upper hand because he has the power to command for her incarceration, which is by the way, too harsh for a punishment for such an action, is to take advantage of his position as an official of the government. To call for such a punishment is to commit travesty to the people whom he serves (even if the lady is not within his jurisdiction) in the very halls of the country where in democracy and the people’s will and welfare should be heard and deliberated.
By far, the representative’s reaction to the defense of other congressmen on the exercise of the “freedom of expression” of the guest was the DUMBEST interpretation of the term I have ever encountered so far. I expect so much from a person who has earned the trust of his people enough to put him to office. And its not much to expect from somebody to understand the term in its varied meaning especially from somebody who finished law from an esteemed institution. And what the representative did was to grandstand for something that is clearly out of order. To shout at the speaker of the house and to everybody else to keep them from making a parliamentary manifestation whatsoever is the gravest abuse of freedom of expression.
With all due respect to the representative, the supposed contempt of the lady in the gallery is not without any reason and thus such tiff can be settled in other and more appropriate venue where in justice can be served to whom it is due. The ire of the lady was directed to the representative because of hugging the floor and insisting on proceeding with the process his way. In as much as the representative insists on upholding the rules regarding proper decorum, he should have thought that it was him who has committed the first act of transgressing the rules.
Well yes, there are media men ready to air the lady’s dismay but what better way to get the message across than to direct it to the party concerned. I am one with Mrs. Pido for standing for what she believed is her right and exercising that. Its about time that these congressmen realize that their stature is something they owe to the people and thus they should be mindful of using it for the welfare of the people and not to elevate their overbearing egos.
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