SCUTTLEBUTT

University of the East College of Law Dean Amado Valdez had a reflection on the country’s political elites sitting “at the same table” and doing what they are best at, he intimated to Nosy Tarsee.

The vision was about “our senators and representatives agreeing to pass the national budget — with insertions, which is when they commit predatory acts.”

They violate a rule, a principle, a safeguard — one that exists precisely to protect against human weakness.

Our Constitution is built on the principle of mistrust — what we commonly call checks and balances.

The legislature checks the executive and the judiciary, and the two, in turn, check the other — all to ensure balance within the body of government.

Under this principle, to have “mistrust” is a duty — to prevent collusion, conspiracy, and abuse for personal gain — to prevent a government of thieves.

When they “sat at the table” — the bicameral committee — to discuss the insertions in the budget, they committed nothing less than a criminal conspiracy to loot, an act of plunder.

They have become principals by indispensable cooperation, principals by inducement, and even principals by direct participation.

The evidence against them in these categories is overwhelming. In the case of principal by indispensable, you do not provide evidence — only take judicial notice of the constitution.

From my experience, this is the easiest kind of case to prosecute — a prosecutor’s dream.

“I therefore strongly move that the members of the bicameral committee concerned be indicted immediately, arrested, and jailed without bail, and that they be subjected to a continuous trial!”

Let us not wait for all investigations to be completed. One or two flood control projects are already ripe for prosecution.

Let there be poster cases — for the people to see that justice still stands, that the guilty will be held accountable, that heads will roll!

What the people feel is sacred. We hear their voices — and together, they are the voice of God.

Who shall be the first we’ll prosecute?

(Senator Joel) Villanueva? He is there because God commanded it. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada? The masa supported him to champion their cause. Former Senate president Chiz Escudero? He was supposed to lead the Senate.

Whose name will have the greatest impact? All of them.

Let the world see our resolve. Let it be known, across the seas, what kind of people we truly are, or the country again will assume the role of the world’s doormat.