Of all the veteran legislators desiring to return to the 24-man Senate, I think one of the best would be my dear friend, full-fledged and multi-awarded Loren Legarda. She is not only close, but also was a dear work colleague in mainstream media for more than three decades.
We grew professionally from pre-and post-martial law Broadcast City in the 80’s and into the powerful ABS-CBN News organization in recent years. I’ve personally seen her work, on cam and off cam, her uncompromising integrity, her passion and resolve to really help our countrymen and push nation building.
I remember her as a political greenhorn in 1998, to become the youngest female senator with the biggest votes that year. After controversially losing the Vice Presidential race to another media friend Noli de Castro in 2004, she returned as topnotcher in the 2007 senatorial elections. During the May 2019 elections, she won by a landslide to represent the lone district of Antique province, after which she served as current House Deputy Speaker.
Time flies fast for this neophyte and simple news anchor on 80’s leading RPN-9 Newswatch , became a cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP) plus a master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, graduating at he top of class with gold medals for Academic Excellence and Best Thesis.
This October, I’ve seen two respected but separate national surveys which kept Loren in the 4th and 5th position among 12 senatorial preferences. To me, this means she still enjoys the trust and confidence of voters who are fully aware of her untainted public service and impeccable legislative track record.
It must be overemphasized that new Senators next year will need to have broad understanding of issues, identify gaps in government policy and correct them thru new or amended legislation. As lawmakers, they must create and promote a national perspective on policy that will ensure Philippine prosperity, security and democracy.
This is a big challenge to popular neophytes who are within and just near the top 12 in those surveys . They may win but do they have enough background for a Senator’s job.
Another thing I personally detest is the big possibility of magkamag-anaks (relatives) again in the new Senate. Brother to brother, sister to brother , mother-son, and father-daughter
No offense meant, but this is indicative of our “political dynasty sickness” already rejected in the 1987 Constitution, but completely disregarded by politicians by not passing an enabling law.
ANOTHER MUST WATCH DISQUALIFICATION CASE BEFORE COMELEC
Like the Bongbong Marcos controversy, I am watching with great interest the developments in the cancellation petition on the COC of Surigao del Sur 1st district Rep. Prospero Pichay filed by former DPWH undersecretary and now Construction Workers solidarity (CWS) partylist representative Romeo Momo before the COMELEC.
Momo claims that Pichay has no more right to hold public office because the Court of Appeals affirmed the Ombudsman’s decision that he was guilty of grave misconduct that carries dismissal and perpetual disqualification to hold any public office.
In the submitted COC application , Momo claims Pichay answered “no” in the question “have you ever been found liable for an offense which carries with it the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office, which has bcecome final and executory?” I believe, Bongbong Marcos also answered no in this COC question.
In 2011, the Ombudsman ordered the LWUA administrator Pichay’s dismissal over the unlawful use of P780 in state funds for th acquisition of the Express Savings Bank Inc. in 2009. But Pichay filed a petition to reverse this ruling before the Supreme court and a “final ruling” was not yet made.
Now the issue is, can a candidate be disqualified in the pendency of his SC petition? The Ombudsman says yes and Comelec can do it. But Pichay’s camp says no because the final arbiter is the Supreme Court.
Place your bets and let us watch how the COMELEC will resolve this?