The Speaker felt that this would give other lawmakers the excuse of not attending sessions. Besides, he reminded neophyte lawmakers (like the popular boxer) that “sports should be sports” and should not be mixed with politics.
Had Belmonte approved this, you would expect the House to be converted as a rendezvous for boxing fans. Following this would be a precedent for other actors/entertainers/sports men to use these facilities for their first career (politics being the second).
Think of Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, or Tito Sotto having their shooting in the halls of the Senate. Or Lucy Torres-Gomez doing a catwalk in the vast hall of the House!
With all due respect to their intentions to serve our country, I find myself not at ease with actors running for and subsequently assuming public office. The experience of having Erap as President 12 years ago lingers on.
I’m glad that at this early in time, Belmonte made that move. As a seasoned politician, new lawmakers should learn a lot from him.
I know this is a rather late reaction on P-Noy’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA). The address was direct to the point and engaging. Take for the example his disgust over the previous administration’s impunity in importing rice only to rot in the NFA warehouses.
However I am very much disappointed that the President did not mention anything on debt servicing. Does that mean it will still be status quo under his administration? I could just make guesses until I finally hear what his stand on the issue is. He cried foul over the extravagance of his predecessor citing that a large portion of the current national budget has already been spent. He should have thought that a considerable percentage of the budget is allocated for debt payment. What is left is for government expenses which, sad to say, is still being pillaged by corrupt public servants!
I hope that our lawmakers would be more sensitive about this and do the right thing – put a cap on debt servicing. The House, in particular, should assert its power of holding the nation’s purse and see to it that money is appropriated where it is truly needed. Not to fatten the World Bank-International Monetary Fund, but to provide a better life to poor Mang Juan Pasang-krus!
If P-Noy vetoes this provision (like what his Mom did before), then he is not fulfilling his oath to “do justice to every man” when he assumed the presidency.
If our legislators do not override the presidential veto, then they are not living up to their role as representatives of the people. They're only lapdogs of the President!
Another issue that P-Noy has to contend with is that of the Hacienda Luisita famers. This vast land owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino clan was exempted from Cory’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program thanks to her relatives in the House during that time like her brother Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. Instead of owning a portion of the land they till, the clan gave them shares in the stocks. All this time, farmers have been clamouring for justice all the way to the Supreme Court.
The President has declared a ‘hands-off’ policy on this issue even during the campaign period. Yet I strongly agree with Christian Monsod (lawyer for some of the farmers) who opined that P-Noy should intervene not because he is an Aquino but because he is the President. Talking about doing justice for all men, his intervention is much sought for.
