Senators’ “kumusta kayo” and “aalagaan ko kayo” should reflect concern for ordinary Filipinos – not just among themselves – and must be backed by action, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed on Friday.
Lacson said the new Senate minority bloc, where he is a member. is focusing on this by discussing ways to contribute to policy decision-making, while restoring the integrity of the Senate as an institution.
“The Filipinos should be the ones we show concern for. What is their plight? Can they still cope with their situation? When we say kumusta, we should not think of ourselves but ask what is the situation of our fellow Filipinos,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on True FM.
“This is one reason why we in the minority want to contribute and make a difference in policy decision-making, and we can do this if we are in the majority. This is not a condescending claim that only we have the moral authority. This is what emerges from our minority caucuses,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Kumusta Kayo’ at ‘Aalagaan Ko Kayo’ ng mga Senador, Dapat Para sa Ordinaryong Pilipino
“I can speak on behalf of my colleagues in the minority that when we hold discussions, the first thing is to save the institution. So my simple message to our fellow Filipinos is, kumusta kayo?”
Similarly, Lacson said senators must direct the word “alaga” or care not for themselves or colleagues, but for the Filipinos they serve.
He noted that one of the reasons for the Senate leadership change last May 11 was that then Senate President Vicente Sotto III failed to take care of his fellow senators by giving them material gains.
A second reason, Lacson said, was his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which recommended the investigation of senators linked to the flood control scandal. Both “reasons” are unfair, he said.
“We heard that one reason why Sotto was removed as Senate President was because he did not know how to take care of fellow senators. He was compared to his predecessor Francis Escudero, who supposedly took care of his colleagues while Sotto did not. For one, Sotto does not have P142 billion that he can ‘share’ with fellow senators,” he said.
“Another reason for the Senate leadership change was me and my chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon, where some colleagues were linked to the flood control issue. I cannot do anything about it. It is what it is,” he added. “If my colleagues would get mad at me for doing my job of following the evidence, what do they want me to do? I cannot cover up for my colleagues if the evidence points to them.”
Lacson said “alaga” should mean the welfare not of fellow senators but of the people.
“‘Alaga’ should be done the right way. If it is to take care of the people, that is fair. But if it is to share Filipinos’ money with colleagues for personal gain – if that is their definition of ‘alaga,’ we might as well pack up,” he said.
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Lacson: ‘Kumusta Kayo’ at ‘Aalagaan Ko Kayo’ ng mga Senador, Dapat Para sa Ordinaryong Pilipino
Ang “Kumusta kayo” at “Aalagaan ko kayo” ng mga senador ay dapat magpakita ng malasakit para sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino — hindi lamang sa isa’t isa — at dapat itong sinusuportahan ng konkretong aksyon, ani Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson noong Biyernes.
Giit ni Lacson, ang bagong Senate minority bloc, na kinabibilangan niya, ay nakatuon sa pagtalakay ng mga paraan upang makapag-ambag sa paghubog ng mga polisiya habang isinusulong ang pagpapanumbalik ng integridad ng Senado bilang isang institusyon.
“Sila ang ating palagiang kukumustahin. Anong kalagayan ninyo, kaya nyo pa ba? Hindi ang trivial o sarili naming kapakanan na hindi nyo kami kinumusta. Ang kumustahin natin lagi sa ating isipan sa ating pananalita, kumusta ba ang sitwasyon ng aming kababayan,” aniya sa panayam sa True FM.
“Ito ang isang dahilan kung bakit gusto naming makapag-contribute at mag-matter kami sa policy decision-making at magagawa namin kung kami nasa majority. Hindi ito condescending, na parang kami ang may moral authority. Ito nanggagaling sa bawat isa sa amin kasi ito lagi naming pinaguusapan,” dagdag niya.
“Ang nangunguna and I can speak on their behalf ang nangunguna pag nagdidiscuss kami isalba ang institution. Kaya ang aking mensahe sa aking kababayan, kumusta kayo?”
Gayundin, sinabi ni Lacson na dapat gamitin ng mga senador ang salitang “alaga,” o pag-aaruga, hindi para sa kanilang sarili o sa kapwa mambabatas, kundi para sa mga Pilipinong kanilang pinaglilingkuran.
Ipinunto niya na isa sa mga dahilan ng pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado noong Mayo 11 ay ang umano’y kabiguan ni dating Senate President Vicente Sotto III na “alagaan” ang kanyang mga kasamahan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng materyal na benepisyo.
Ang ikalawang dahilan, aniya, ay ang kanyang pamumuno sa Blue Ribbon Committee na nagrekomenda ng pag-imbestiga laban sa ilang senador na nasangkot sa flood control scandal. Aniya, parehong hindi makatarungan ang mga dahilan na ito.
“Ang nakarating sa amin ang issue kay Sen. Sotto, hindi daw marunong mag-alaga ng kasamahan namin. Ang aking reaction doon, hindi marunong mag-alaga? Si Sen. Sotto, wala siyang P142B na pwedeng ipamigay sa kapwa senador. Nakumpara pa siya kay Sen. Chiz. Parang si SP Chiz noon, alaga ang mga kasama, si Sen. Sotto, hindi daw,” aniya.
“Isa pang dahilan, ako daw. Ang Blue Ribbon, may kasamahan kami na narecommend na makasuhan. E sa loob ko lang kung yan ang dahilan e di wala tayong magagawa. It is what it is. Ako siyempre ginawa ko trabaho ko,” dagdag niya. “Kung isasama ng loob ng aking kasamahan ang aking pagganap ng tungkulin bilang chairman na di ko babalewalain ang mga pahayag o di ko isasama dahil kasamahan ko, saan ako lulugar? Sa aking palagay di ako para magtakip sa aking kasamahan.”
Giit pa ni Lacson, ang “alaga” ay dapat tumukoy sa kapakanan ng taumbayan, hindi ng kapwa politiko.
“Ang alaga relative yan, ang alaga sa maayos at tamang pamamaraan that’s fair. Pero ang alaga na bubusugin kita inalagaan kita na di natin pera yan, pera ng bayan yan ipambubusog ko sa iyo, kung yan ang definition ng alaga e mag pack up na tayong lahat,” he said.
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