The lower House: ‘Huwag tularan’

St. Theresa’s College (Quezon City) and its alumnae add our voice to those of the many individuals and groups that have spoken to denounce the shameless behavior of members of the House of Representatives at last month’s hearing on the alleged drug trafficking at the national penitentiary.

With very few exceptions, the men and women of the lower house conducted themselves in less than honorable fashion. The questions bordered on the absurd as they insisted on digging into the minutest, most irrelevant details of a senator’s past, ad nauseam. Their lame defense for their behavior, that it was necessary to their investigation, was appalling, to say the least.

Moreover, we find it disturbing and disgusting—as society expects Congress to exhibit the highest decency and integrity as a lawmaking body—that observers in that room, male and female, seemed to find nothing objectionable in the lawmakers’ line of questioning. They laughed and jeered and seemed to egg on their representatives, thrilled by the salacious (and free?) entertainment they were getting.

We must ask, as others before us have asked: Was the inquiry really held in aid of legislation? It seemed to us that it was nothing more than a shameless display of congressional power and a total disregard of one’s right to a fair and dignified hearing.

Ladies and gentlemen of the House of Representatives, we ask you these questions: Do you think that your behavior reflected the ethical path toward exercising your mandate as legislators? Do we tell the youth that your actions were the right way to search for truth and deliver justice?

Or do we tell them, “Huwag tularan?”

ST. THERESA’S COLLEGE, QUEZON CITY AND THE STCQC ALUMNAE