Simply Fishy

            Incredible but true. Fourteen years in the making  but sadly the Freedom  of Information Bill did not even saw daylight passed ironically even  as a  last ditch effort was made  last Friday’s  Session in Congress. Sadly,  Rep. Abante’s baby did not even mustered enough numbers constituting  quorum for its  adoption as legislative agenda. If  this is the way would happen to other equally important legislaltive agenda lawmakers are inept let alone, invoke technicality as cover up for conspiracy, then why not abolish Congress to save peoples’s money. 

 Malacanang Squad was even more quick to a draw burrying it when it’s passage into law would  have been the best thing to do. But check this. Mere technicality missing just seven Congressmen short of reaching  135 constituting quorum – mangled it blowing away the chances of making Freedom of Information Bill (FOIB) into a law! And the saddest part of them all, the roll on official record by the Secretary was 145, ten more of the desirable 135 quorum. But as if on cue from  script of Malacanang,  concerned ‘criminals’ were  seen loitering around the premises of Congress prompting CIBAC partylist Representative Joel Villanueva to invoke House Rules 74 to arrest them to which the good Speaker Nograles begged the question instead like: you mean arrest them twice more puzzled and incompetent than committed.

 Until next Administration of course, Erin Tanada, one of LP’s power broker  promise giving up that everything was already lost when Rep. Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin invoked lack of quorum.. And as suspected Speaker  Nograles acting  on Malacanang script, ruled  the session closed, true to his form as the worst Speaker the Congress ever had, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello wailed.

Incidentally, president elect Noynoy Acquino as of press time acknowledge it as the  priority for his administration. Dapat lang as he intends to stop corruption. But will he  or will he not? If he could not clean the mess in his own backyard and clear his name about Hacienda Luisita, how sure   are we that there would be no more another  live classic soap opera  like crying, shouting, walk out rendering deathblow to such important democratic requirement for transparency as freedom of  information bill in Congress.  Better tell it to the marines. As an explainable maxim puts it: Where the heart is willing, it will find thousand means. But where the heart is unwilling, it will find not just  thousand but million of excuses. That FOIB was not passed into law therefore simply shows the portent of doom of any possibility for its resurrection in the plenary hall of Congress. I just don’t even see any redemption of the lost cause when all chances was  already there but sorely surrendered for the powers-that-be by mere technicality.

Reasons should be in order. One, representatives are the richest and most powerful in their district and definitely would not just about to succumb to media or other ordinary citizens sneaking  a quick look  into their closet unless defeated.  Otherwise, just there’s no way for any  prying eyes looking into their top secret documents..

Second, it’s all in the family as mostly of these representatives have the rest of their family calling the shots in their political district.  It’s all the family getting the pork and IRA  and mostly enjoying its  lion’share.

Third, something fishy has been there for many decades as old as they were there holding the reigns of power.  Why allow to pass this bill of FOI and have their dirty linen washed in public.

Other reasons outside those observation could be added to the list. But otherwise, there’s just no way of  looking into the secrecy of their vault.

Concomitantly, Secrecy law should have been passed instead of FOI to protect Ali Baba’s gang all there. That’s how power are concocted just allowing whatever closet you have stay in your head. No one can bugged it there except yourself.  It’s comprehensive and common among secret society, church and those wielding power as in politics.  What for if not to protect their interest and to save their face.

 Would you like to cross the party lines?  Better run first in your district and win, otherwise accept political reality of the country, you’re relegated to the background and no way allowed to tinker with reality.

I know this observation might be misconstrued as defeatist attitude undermining the capacity of honest representatives in Congress.  But where were you last Friday’s session that  you did not come to FOIB’s rescue. Sadly except for the few gentlemen and a lady, (Reps. Abante, Villanueva, Bello and Riza Hontiveros) what we all heard was only whimper. It seems there was conspiracy  covering up the whole mess.

But to true and honest crusader for transparent government. Don’t fret yet, fishy deals would one day have their day. The aroma can not just survived  long in a container or it will bubbles out and pollute the air. Better register your name and be counted or the whole thing might blow right on your face. Dung.