Dispatch from Crame No. 355:

Para sa isang tunay na Minorya sa kamara--
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on the House Minority Leadership

8/4/18

Minsan may magandang naiidulot ang masamang pangyayari. Sa social science ay tinatawag itong "unexpected consequence" o "unintended benefit".

Halimbawa: ang pagkahalal kay GMA bilang bagong Speaker ay nagbunga ng isang tunay na minorya sa kamara.

Hindi siguro akalain ni GMA at kanilang mga political operators na ang pagiging Speaker ni GMA ay maghuhudyat ng pag-usbong ng isang lehitimong oposisyon sa House of Representatives. Mula sa unang grupo ng 12, ngayon ay 26 na sila sa minorya at mukhang dadami pa.

Whatever were the reasons behind the closing of opposition ranks - whether some are just consistently anti-GMA, some are anti-Duterte regulars, or others may have seen a second chance to be politically relevant - still, the emergence of this new and true LP-led House Minority is a "shot in the arm" and a much needed boost to an opposition that has practically been decimated under the tyrannical duopoly of Alvarez and Fariñas.

LP has said it succinctly: "We need a Minority that is not an extension of the Majority, unlike in the immediate past... We need a Minority that fiscalizes; one that is reasonable and has the ability to represent alternative points of view that provide us with more effective legislation."

Indeed, a well-functioning Minority -- one that truly fiscalizes and genuinely presents the diversity and complexity of views and interests of our people - is one vital sign of a healthy democracy. It is essential in the representative attribute and deliberative essence of lawmaking. It recognizes different and differing opinions and persuasions and ensures checks and balances in our processes that help lead to effective and meaningful legislation for the good of our people.

In his book "Strengthening Congress", Lee Hamilton, who was a member of US Congress for almost 3 ½ decades, said: "[T]he remedy for much of what ails our political system is for each of us to restore in our lives a sense of the public good, to ask ourselves not what's good for any one of us, but what's good for the country. That lies at the very heart of a well-functioning, strengthened Congress."

Hinahamon ko po ang bago at totoong Minorya sa Kamara: Gawin po ninyo ang nararapat. Maging tinig po sana kayo para sa kapakanan at kagalingan ng mga Pilipino. Labanan po sana ninyo ang mga patayan at mga paglabag sa karapatan ng marami, lalo na ng mga mahihirap. Kontrahin po sana ninyo ang Cha-Cha at iba pang balak na hindi talaga para sa tao kundi para sa mga abusadong pulitiko. Tumindig po sana kayo para sa soberanya ng Pilipinas. Busisiin po ninyo ang pambansang budget at tiyakin na ang pera ng bayan ay mapupunta sa mga programa at proyektong talagang kinakailangan. Pamunuan po sana ninyo ang isang pinalakas na oversight o pagbabantay ng Kongreso sa mga kakulangan, pag-abuso at iba pang kamalian sa pagpapatupad sa ating mga batas.

Dalangin ko ang isang tunay at aktibong Minorya. Bunga man ito ng "masamang" nangyayari sa Kongreso at gobyerno, may pag-asang mahuhugot dito ang mga namumulat na at ang lumalaki pang oposisyon ng ating mga kababayan.