Press Release
28 July 2005
CONGRESS IS NOT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT!
With this, Representative Lorenzon “Erin” Tanada, III from the 4th District of Quezon Province strongly reminded the House majority, particularly House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles, not to forget their commitments, specially to their constituents, because of political expediency.
The President’s problems and Congress’ legislative agenda are points separate and distinct from each other. Each has its own particularity and dynamism. The vast difference between being committed to a President, questionable as she is, and commitment to a legislative agenda for the people are as clear as day.
With their clear numbers, how can the majority’s idea of a legislative agenda be in danger to a minority? Representative Nograles’ pronouncements only highlight the fear of the so-called House majority to the Filipino people’s clamor for change.
Representative Nograles is attempting to foist on the people the incredulous proposition that Congress’ agenda will not push thru without the incumbent President. This is an insult to the rest of his fellow legislators, including those in the House majority, as he is implying that they cannot think and act on their own and/or are beholden to a single person.
If House Majority Floor Leader Nograles’ statement is to be followed, that is to revamp the House committees and remove from the position of Chairperson those who are there for “mere political convenience”, then there would be no one in the House majority left to choose from to chair the said committees!
It seems House Majority Floor Leader Nograles is underprovided in the fundamental comprehension of the political interdependence and interplay between the House majority and minority, between his so-called “collective” and individuals, between the old and traditional political parties and the relatively-new party list groups, and between principles and political convenience.
Representative Nograles should be reminded that his so-called House “majority coalition” is a political alliance composed not only of groups but of individuals. He therefore should practice statemanship and not make sweeping statements that insult not only his alies but also his partymates. He should also avoid sowing political intrigues like some Cabinet Secretaries are doing now.
Since the opening of the ___ session of the House of representatives last July 25, events have started heating up on the congressional floor regarding the impeachment cases filed against President G. M. Arroyo and the dilatory moves against this which the House majority have apparently begun.
LORENZO R. TANADA III
4TH District, Quezon
Press Release
28 July 2005
Dumb if you do, dumb if you don’t
“Take your issues to congress” the President herself told those who want her to be impeached. And now that several representatives have heed to her adviced, her staunch allies in Congress seem not please, pushes on a House revamp.
Not content with the dangling of thousands of pesos in Congress to stop, at all cost, the signing of the impeachment complaint, now they are forcing every committee chairmens out of public job because they have fearlessly signed he impeachement complaint.
Confusing the people with such rhetorics, Nograles even boast that on Congress ought to maintain a principle of “strengthening (majority) political blocs especially on issues of great political consequence.”
Is protecting the president free from the process of impeachment a great political consequence? Maybe for them who have conveniently aligned with the president.
Congress is not the representative of the President but, the Filipino people? How soon did the House Majoirty Floor Leader, Prospero Nograles forget his promises to his constituents because political alignment. Political convenience might have blinded his supposed principles.
Congressman Nograles should collectively consult the supposedly political bloc before coming up with haphazard releases of proposed house revamp. Is this not the meaning of “decide collectively as a polilitical bloc.”
LORENZO R. TANADA III
4TH District, Quezon