Privilege of power

Sometimes I wonder where lawmakers the likes of House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas get the courage to speak of their privilege. Fariñas’ recent move to ask traffic enforcement agencies to excuse lawmakers when they commit minor traffic violations on their way to work is so revealing about his attitude and brazenness.

The first thing lawmakers must think of is how to be accountable and responsible whether by accident or intentional, and not how to get away with it. Lawmakers must bear in mind that they are representing the people, thus, they should put forward the public’s interest.

Instead of invoking such a privilege, lawmakers should subject themselves to the daily ordeal of Filipinos in urban areas, including riding the MRT, LRT, jeepney, bus, or tricycle, so they could effect laws that would directly benefit the public.

A call for exemption to the rule erodes the idealism that laws equalize people. The position of power gives privileged ones access to the law while those who get the crumbs that fall from the master’s table are left behind without its protection.

NORMA P. DOLLAGA, Kapatirang Simbahan Para Sa Bayan, kasimbayan@yahoo.com.ph