Changing the rules mid-trial: The need for statespersons in the Senate

Although professor Randy David tried to explain the different numbers of senators needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, I got confused by the different scenarios and what to believe as to the actual number to convict: 14,15, or 16.

He said, “A rule changed midway, when the likely count can already be gleaned, looks like a preview of the decision,” and Sen. Francis Escudero, the presiding officer, should not have stated that two-thirds meant 16 of the 24 senators. Even at the start, two were already missing. There may be more before this impeachment trial ends.

This confusion would not have happened if, as an electorate, we had voted for senatorial candidates who are statespersons. According to Wikipedia, ”a statesperson is a respected, skilled, and experienced political leader, who is known for wisdom and integrity and prioritizes the common good over personal or party gain. A politician is often viewed as someone focused on winning elections, holding power, and serving party interests.”

Of the 24 senators who we have right now, how many are statespersons and how many are just politicians, and in particular, in the Philippines, the “trapos.” It is very important that we elect statespersons to Congress, especially in the Upper House, the Senate, which as the legislative branch of the government, makes laws. If they were statespersons (I am using a generic title), no senator would be in jail for nonbailable plunder, no senator will disappear to hide from the International Criminal Court, and no senator will leave the country to seek medical care for an undisclosed illness just because of an impending investigation.

I am not a lawyer, a political scientist, or a sociologist, but as a concerned Filipino, I would suggest the following to make the Senate great again:

1) Review the history of the Philippine Senate. We should go back to the Jones Law of 1916, which established the Senate, whose members were elected, two from each of 12 districts. It had 24 members. With the Constitution of 1935, the Senate was abolished but was reinstated by an amendment in 1940. The significant change was that the senators were voted on a national rather than a regional basis. Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate was fixed at 24 members and again its members were elected nationally.

2) Having two members of the Senate elected in each of our 18 administrative regions is very practical: a) we will know our candidates better since they live within our neighborhoods. b) with 12 candidates to choose from, the one with the most name recognition will usually top the election even though he or she has no legislative experience. c) campaign spending will be less and there is less chance for vote buying and corrupting the voters. d) the voters will remember who they voted for since it may just be one or two, but not the 12 names.

3) The senators who we voted for are expected to work hard for their regions since it is easier to follow them in a smaller space. Remember, each region has different needs.

4) There must be a system whereby a senator who left the Senate for reasons like imprisonment, resignation, or even death must be replaced as soon as possible by the executive branch until the next regular or special election. Are there provisions in our Constitution? This way, the number in the Senate is maintained.

A simple solution to our problem: Vote for statespersons.

Ida M. Tiongco,
idationgco@gmail.com