The Senate leadership of Senator Win Gatchalian is legitimate. The reconstitution of the new Senate majority was made in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, specific Senate Rules, and some legal jurisprudence, such as the case of Avelino vs Cuenco. 

Wherever one stands on the legitimacy issue, however, the Senate is the proper venue to discuss the controversy over Senate legitimacy and other related issues. Definitely they should not be settled in social media like Facebook. The Senate deserves the courtesy and respect by its very members. Simply put, it is ruled by decency.  

One Senator invoked the legal principle of force majeure as an excuse for missing face to face sessions in the Senate. By definition, force majeure or fortuitous event is an act of god. It is considered as a superior force. It is sudden, unforeseen, and unavoidable physical phenomena like the Covid-19. La Niña, the Middle East war and the China-Taiwan conflict are not uncontrollable events; they do not physically prevent lawmakers from physically attending work and justify participation remotely. 

The root problem with the Senate and our politics, in general, is the insatiable appetite for power, prestige, and wealth. As we can see for ourselves, it is very consuming and destructive. Politicians forget that the real worth of a person is not determined by one’s  worldly possessions, academic achievements, successes, or income. One’s bank balance does not define one’s worth as an individual and as a unique human person. Indeed, the value of a person is not determined by what’s outside himself but what’s inside.

Moreover, power is not a privilege but a responsibility. The authority vested in one’s position should be exercised to promote and protect the interest of the common and public good and definitely, not to shield a person from one’s accountability. 

The Constitution provides clearly: public office is a public trust. An elective official is vested with a fiduciary duty to the people to serve, protect and advance their welfare. It is not a personal property nor source of private gain which entitles one to do what he pleases. 

The Filipino people are disgusted with the behavior of our Senators in recent weeks. They have witnessed vividly the real personality and true character of these supposed public servants. What they are seeing is nauseating and revolting! These are inconvenient truths that we cannot ignore or disregard.  Certainly, the Filipino people deserve better!