This is in reaction to the Inquirer’s Feb. 11 editorial. To say that former Sen. Jamby Madrigal is “an exhausted politician of limited ability” is simply unfair. Just take a look at what she did as a legislator. She passionately worked for the protection of the environment (she authored Senate Bill No. 171 which led to the enactment of a law ensuring state protection of the Tubbataha Reef) and other significant bills (like the landmark Magna Carta of Women) in defense of human rights and the rights of women and children.
Apart from that, Senator Madrigal filed bills to advance nationalist economics; she was one of the few senators who pushed for a high sin tax rate in 2004. She had a consistent 100-percent nationalist voting record—she voted against oppressive legislation such as the E-VAT (Expanded Value-Added Tax) Law and the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement. (For a full list of Sen. Jamby Madrigal’s bills, please go to her website https://www. jambymadrigal.com/index.htm). And how can you forget that her voice was one of the most clamorous in debates during the Senate hearings on and investigations into the highly controversial “jueteng” and NBN-ZTE deal?
Certainly, the adjective “limited” would be the last word I would use to describe this leader who has always been consistent in her principles and tireless in fighting for her vision for the Philippines!
—KRUPSKAYA M. AÑONUEVO
former assistant professor at University of the Philippines
fellow of Action for Economic Reforms
krupskaya.anonuevo@gmail.com