Are they exempted?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

In any other country they would be allow either their colleagues or the court of law to hold them responsible for their actions.  But probably because both hold the distinction of being members of the Philippine Senate who have aspired for the presidency, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manuel Villar have twisted the interpretation of parliamentary immunity to include immunity from ethical and criminal charges that have been hurled against them by their alleged political opponents.

Former presidential candidate Sen. Ping Lacson, who is accused of masterminding the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, has openly evaded the law by fleeing the country.  He justifies his flight by saying that he is just a victim of political harassment and has put himself out of reach from the law because of his concern for his personal safety and security.

Current presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar, whose real estate transactions are being questioned by his peers, has refused to attend the hearings in the Senate and face his colleagues who have been critical of him.  He claims that he is not expecting a fair shake from the majority senators who have signed a damning report because they were biased against him.  Despite the gravity of the accusations and the billions of pesos involved, he puts himself beyond censure and accountability for his actions connected to his companies’ involvement in the C-5 project.  Instead of facing his accusers, Villar resorts to political maneuvering while he ironically labels the accusations against him as merely political noise.

If an ordinary Filipino is accused of stealing a loaf of bread or killing his neighbor, he has no other choice but to submit himself to the country’s justice system, no matter how flawed he or she may believe it to be.  Why is it different for those who have the status and the resources to mount a serious run at the Presidency?  If these kind of people do win the presidency, would it be realistic for us to expect them to defend and protect the Constitution?*