THE NUMBERS GAME

When I was a child, I talked like a child, thought like a child, acted like
a child.

Our honorable leaders will not give up their childish games.

Senate President Franklin Drilon has the votes. For now. He should leave it
at that. To pontificate on public service at this point only insults the
tax-paying public senators purport to serve. Robert Jaworski can declaim
about duty to country and family until his face turns blue. The only duty
the public sees is self-interest.

The Senate, that august hall, has become a schoolyard full of snot-nosed
brats who stage tantrums whenever they do not get their way. Children
probably have a deeper concept of principles.

Let's be frank about it. Really, now, are Filipinos really supposed to
believe the defection of Jaworski, or Tito Sotto, or even Blas Ople, would
serve our interest, other than the fact that we'd all be spared the
embarrassment of witnessing two parallel sessions in the chamber?

Ople may be a genius and a savvy survivor of bureaucratic minefields.
Before he warms the seat Tito Guingona once occupied, his first duty to
Filipinos is to explain why, in the first place, he consented to that
imbecilic coup that sputtered and died at the first fetid blast of air from
John Osme. Gringo Honasan, for all those failed attempts and cowardly
escapes, at least managed some hits at the enemy.

A coup. Some things never change. From 1987 to 2002, one thing stands out a
" coup plotters never have the people's interests in mind. They only want
the quickest route to power, the people be damned.

The sorriest thing is, the leaders coup plotters seek to unseat aren't
exactly paragons of virtue either.

For all senators talk about independence, the truth is, the Senate mess is
but a proxy war between President Macapagal-Arroyo and deposed president
Joseph Estrada. The outcome, so far, doesn't bode well for the nation. And
those surveys show it.

The incumbent President will survive all this not because the people really
believe in her, but because they shudder at the alternative. That's not
very comforting but ought to be enough to build on, if only Malaca and its
troops manage to get out of that tunnel where the only light to be seen is
a blinking sign that says, '2004'.

Was it 2004 that prompted the horse-trading leading to three opposition
senators' defection? Was it 2004 that prodded efforts to form a 'working
coalition' with senators who, until last week, were proclaiming in word and
deed that they considered President Macapagal-Arroyo an illegitimate Chief
Executive?

If so, the people better prepare for more turbulence.

Ople, in his waning days, may be content to play the role of statesman.

But Jawo? And Sotto? Dear God, are we really down to the dregs? Two
senators who, not too long ago, trampled all over notions of justice and
good governance, by voting to keep out evidence in their patron's
impeachment trial.

And Sotto, lest we forget, was dropped as GMA's running mate because of
alleged links to a Bulacan drug lord. That charge, like most politically
motivated accusations, never reached the courts. But with the incumbent
President talking of morality and good governance, and the need to set
examples, it's a little jarring to hear Sotto's been made consultant of the
Dangerous Drugs Board.

As for that working coalition, Kiko Pangilinan and Joker Arroyo are right.
That'll probably be good for a couple weeks or months.

It's amusing, however, to listen to senators use John Osme as a lesson.
Gawd, Osme is the prime example of exigency. If senators were honest,
they'd admit the only reason they bothered with him in the first place, is
the fact that he's buyable - if terribly expensive. And when you hear that
it was Drilon who vouched forOsme, him of the P1-million balato, well, the
choice is between laughing or puking. Especially since Drilon, a fellow
Visayan, must have heard Osme's classic line about Filipino voters having
the memories of idiots.

Bueno, there's nothing to be done. The circus is over. Let the next one begin.

But let's remember when 2004 comes around, hit them where it hurts. We're
all in this together. We elect the governments we deserve.