by Edcer Escudero
THE Senate, also called the Upper House of Congress, is supposed to be the august arena for cerebral deliberations of national issues, and a showcase of parliamentary decorum, refined and intelligent speech by its “honorable” members. (That is why all senators must at least be 35 years old. While members of the Lower House must be 25 years old and over).
But the Senate session of January 26 fell short of this expectation.
Aquilino Pimentel Jr., nicknamed Nene, the second oldest member of the chamber, demonstrated a brattish behavior during a brief verbal tussle with fellow senator Mar Roxas. Obviously trying to show off his wit, the Cagayan de Oro solon threw a quick retort that was clearly in bad taste and reflected the dirty mind of an old man.
Here’ how it went. Mar Roxas made repeated assertions that he did not make insertions in the annual national budget. Apparently, the word insertion pricked Pimentel’s malicious mind which prompted him to throw a retort directed at Roxas: “Since you are now married, you must have had insertions.”
That remark was certainly uncalled for, offensive, ungentlemanly, malicious, vulgar, inexcusable within the hallowed hall of congress. Pimentel made himself more unpalatable when he refused to apologize right there and then. Poor Nene, he behaved like a totoy.
It is not surprising, however, to witness such a conduct by Pimentel because he is known for ungentlemanly utterances on the Senate floor, and even outside of it.
Well, as they say, you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, or you cannot bend an old bamboo.
Pimentel has the mindsetof one who has what psychologists call persecution complex. It may help us understand him more if we consider the fact that he was jailed three times during the Martial Law years of the Marcos regime.
Apparently, he still has a terrible Martial Law hangover.
At one juncture during the January 26 Senate session, he posed a question to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in a defiant tone: “Are you threatening to silence me?” He was really in a fighting mood.
Why? Simple: Enrile was the minister of defense and Mar Law implementer who jailed Pimentel on three occasions. See?
Pimentel is always and forever on guard against persecution. It’s a stigma that refuses to disappear. He wears this like a badge of honor. Having been jailed thrice and survived, he provably considers himself a freedom fighter second to none.
Well, anybody is free to anoint oneself a hero.
Pimentel’s parliamentary verbal blunder can easily be construed as a malicious mischief punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both, depending on the discretion of the court.
But, there’s nothing to worry about. He enjoys parliamentary immunity.
Will we ever see and hear a more gentlemanly, more civilized, more pleasant, more harmless, more decorous, more engaging, and with less effrontery Aquilino Pimentel Jr.?
Can you bend an old bamboo? (No, but you can split it!—Editors).
