Almost always, nature offers the simplest explanation for a person’s why, what and how. This is the case even for politics, if only to explain President Arroyo’s decision to run in 2004 despite making earlier pronouncements that she wouldn’t, or why President Marcos opted for declaring martial law in 1972 to bypass the presidential election of 1973.

The same may be said of Panfilo Lacson’s and Manuel Villar’s intramural in the Senate, which should not have been a wonder to most, since both are simply being true to their respective nature, being the potential protagonists that they are in what is surely to become a hotly contested presidential election in 2010. Their actions, even in the past, have never belied their nature and, to that extent, kudos to both as well as others in the fray. Sa wakas, nagpapakatotoo na sila.

The scorpion stung the frog despite the risk of drowning. It was not a matter of choice; it was his nature, and he couldn’t go against it. The frog should have known better than to trust the scorpion’s word over his better judgment. His earlier hunch was correct, that the scorpion would be true to his nature, and would sting him no matter what. But perhaps it was his nature to be trusting and, in the end, he paid dearly for this miscalculation.

Before becoming a politician, Senate President Villar was a highly successful real-estate businessman. That was and is still his calling, and perhaps even after politics or until death. His nature is that of a shrewd entrepreneur quick to realize an opportunity, speculates and risks for gain, hedges against loss, and knows how to raise capital for his ventures. And it is easy enough to assume that he goes about his politics in similar fashion.

In this sense, he is surely savvy enough to realize now the “cost” to his presidential campaign of Senator Lacson’s attribution to him of a P200-million “double entry” budget for the C-5 road extension to his political and business bailiwick south of Metro Manila. Whether that budget “insertion” was a calculated political-business risk on his part remains uncertain, but it is in his nature as a businessman to realize the “opportunities” such budget presented.

As for Senator Lacson, he was the country’s top cop prior to joining the Senate. As such, his nature is that of a cop—one who acts on tips from informants and intelligence agents, arrests people caught in the act or even only on probable cause, sometimes too quick to shoot, and often leaves it to courts to sort out legalities. It was thus unsurprising for him to go after Senator Villar with guns drawn, but with little to be expected by way of follow through. Neither does it appear to be in his nature to accord Senator Villar due process.

Meanwhile, it seems only too natural for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to be critical of Senator Lacson and supportive of Senator Villar with regard the present controversy. After all, Senator Villar’s alleged budget insertion seems to benefit the political bailiwick of the Cayetano siblings at the Senate. Sens. Alan and Pia Cayetano come from Taguig, where the C-5 road passes, and which shares borders with the cities of Parañaque and Muntinlupa, where Senator Villar also has extensive real-estate interests. Parañaque and Muntinlupa, likewise, share boundaries with Las Piñas, which is Senator Villar’s original political and business bailiwick. One can only speculate on the price of Senator Cayetano’s support.

Without doubt, the Senate remains the main proving ground for nationally elected leaders intending to bid for the presidency. Nine out of the country’s 14 presidents have all come from the Senate: Manuel Quezon (who served as the first Senate President after he successfully lobbied for a nationally elected Senate that was eventually established in 1940), Jose Laurel, Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia, Ferdinand Marcos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

To date, those aspiring to replace President Arroyo in 2010 are also in the Senate, except for Vice President Manuel Leuterio de Castro Jr. These include senators Villar, Lacson and Manuel Roxas III. Even the highly popular VP de Castro, in his initial political foray after leaving the broadcast industry, was first elected senator in 2001 before he was elected Vice President in 2004.

While political controversies, like Senator Lacson’s tirade against Senator Villar, are often annoying and seemingly a waste of the public’s time, their redeeming value is that they can still prove useful in partly revealing to the public the nature and character of our national leaders, particularly amid scrutiny. Perhaps such revelation will not be lost on people as the country nears the 2010 elections. 

Comments to matort@yahoo.com.

Editorial: Taking stock

WE have a recent Associated Press (AP) dispatch from Washington to remind us how Ronald Reagan defined economic downturns.

Through the Looking Glass: The Close-Now, Hear-Later Doctrine

Conclusion 

This doctrine, fired from the hip to preempt asset dissipation against banks proven insolvent, is self-explanatory. Upon insolvency and where there is an imminent danger that an insolvent bank’s assets may be dissipated, then authorities invoke the doctrine.

Sway: The nature of our leaders

Almost always, nature offers the simplest explanation for a person’s why, what and how. This is the case even for politics, if only to explain President Arroyo’s decision to run in 2004 despite making earlier pronouncements that she wouldn’t, or why President Marcos opted for declaring martial law in 1972 to bypass the presidential election of 1973.

Omerta: Morales has got to go

All the signs are pointing in one direction. These suggest that Customs Commissioner Morales, based on his bureau’s huge revenue-collection shortfall over the past 21 months, may, sooner than you think, be among the first major casualties of the Lateral Attrition Act of 2005.

The Essential Thing: Criminal, administrative raps vs the same person

If a public official is charged criminally for an alleged wrongdoing proscribed by the penal laws, may he be charged administratively as well? Yes, since his single act of wrongdoing may constitute both a crime (for which he must be imprisoned) and a service-related misconduct (for which he must be disciplined).

Servant Leader: Part I: Creation–a network of life

We are blessed with a Cardinal who loves to teach us. Last month, this column featured the pastoral teaching of His Eminence entitled “Weakness and sickness—the way to fullness of life.” This week and the next few weeks, I will share with you the Cardinal’s latest teaching, Life is one!