Congressman Tañada and RP’s new breed of leaders

(Note: In November 2010, Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada visited 11 Filipinos who were supposed to work for Aramark, a Fortune 500 company, but who became victims of human trafficking. He has since delivered a privilege speech in Congress, which has put the human trafficking issue among the most important in Philippine politics).
(July 14, 2006) HIS NAME is as old as Philippine politics.  Thanks to the Grand Old Man, the late Senator Lorenzo Tañada. But Quezon Province Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, son of former Sen.  Wigberto Tañada, is not the traditional politician that has characterized many of our leaders who, despite their age or their political callousness and sometimes their lack of sensibilities, still want to cling to power. 

Being a Tañada, however, carries a tradition that is known for nationalism, patriotism and subservience to the interest of the poor, the peasants and the workers whose struggles span years of feudalism in the countryside and low-paying jobs in the factories.  And although a first-termer, Erin has shown that he now bears the torch of continuing the fight to help these marginalized folks who comprise Philippines’ majority.

Early this week, the congressman from Quezon Province’s 4^th District, met with the Filipino-American media at the Philippine Consulate. He discussed, among others, the issues of charter change, and the possibility of losing the right to vote for registered Filipino-Americans and overseas Filipino workers once the form of government in the country changes from a presidential to a parliamentary system. Personally, I am not in favor of us voting in RP elections because of my philosophy (actually Confucius’) of teaching the people how to fish for themselves. For me, Filipinos should govern themselves.

According to Cong. Tañada, since the Absentee Voting Law allows only for the election of presidents, vice presidents, senators and party-list members, a parliamentary system would make this provision moot and academic. So all that effort, including a Senate hearing conducted by Sen. Edgardo Angara and his committee members at the Philippine Consulate a few years ago, will turn into a complete waste if and when the system of government becomes unicameral. 

I’m all for that, but surely not for the “leaders” who attended and testified at the hearing, and who want to participate in Philippine electoral exercises. By the way, here in the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, whose jurisdiction includes that of Texas, New Mexico, the whole of Southland and lower Nevada – home to about a million Filipinos – only about 300 voted in the last presidential elections, who incidentally are supposed to go home to the Philippines after that exercise because of an affidavit they had to sign requiring them to do so. 

Blame Rep. Teddy “Boy” Locsin, who put in that provision because, he said, if you are going to vote for someone, you have to make sure that someone would work for you, meaning you have to become a responsible citizen, and not just a person from outside looking in and meddling in local affairs.  

During our “Kapihan,” Tañada reported on the state of the country, where political activists and journalists are being executed, while those responsible for the killings remain scot-free. He said he believes rightwing elements of the military are the ones perpetrating these crimes, a valid reason since no police nor any military intelligence have been able to make any arrest. 

Meanwhile, he also lamented the fact that after a trip to The Netherlands to meet with Jose Ma.  Sison and after convincing the National Democratic Front leaders to forego demanding removal of their “terrorist” tag, the peace talks again were stalled because the House leadership wants a ceasefire first before any negotiations can take place. And so, the communist insurgency drags on. Oh, before I forget, the speaker of the House is Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, one of RP’s trapos (traditional politician).

Speaking of trapos, Tañada and his contemporaries may be looking at 2010, when the next presidential elections are held, that is of course, if the system remains the same. The Liberal Party, to which he belongs, is looking at Senator Mar Roxas (dubbed as Mr. Palengke who makes sure that commodities are priced right and in proper weights) as its presidential standard bearer, with the possibility of either Cong.  Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (majority leader) as vice president (Update: the other way around happened of course and Aquino is elected president). All young and vibrant, who are proponents of reforms as in Moving Ahead with Reforms. (One thing that bugs me though, is the thought of having colleague Korina Sanchez as First Lady and Second Lady? Noynoy, help me out, please!)

Since the dismantling of the dictatorship, or so they say, the country has had a housewife, a military man, an actor, and now an economist (who could’ve been another actor if not for alleged poll cheating).  All administrations failed miserably, except perhaps for Mr. Fidel Ramos who led the Philippines in a positive growth despite an Asian contagion that plagued Asia’s tigers in the 90s. Which brings to mind Tañada’s argument, that it’s not a question of a government system, it’s a question of leadership and who can best steer the country to greater heights.(RFL)