PUP professor Louie Montemar Courtesy: House of Representatives
POLYTECHNIC University of the Philippines (PUP) professor Louie Montemar on Saturday called on Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to step down, saying public trust in the Senate leadership has been badly damaged by the recent turmoil in the chamber and by the perception that the new leadership is friendly to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte ahead of her impeachment trial.
Speaking before the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Consumer at Mamamayan officer Montemar also urged the Senate to consider expelling Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying the chamber cannot restore credibility while one of its members is facing an arrest warrant and remains part of the body that will process the impeachment case.
“Una, kailangan palitan ang pamunuan dahil wala nang tiwala ang tao kay Alan Peter Cayetano,” Montemar stated.
“In fact, last night I was asked to sign an alumni group of UP campus leaders, former leaders and UP student council, hingin ang pagbibitiw ni Alan Peter Cayetano. Mayroon nang pumirma na mahigit 150 dating student leaders sa UP na pinapanawagan na tanggalin si Cayetano o paalisin si Cayetano sa kanyang position ngayon,” he added.
Montemar, a professor of sociology and political science, made the statement as questions continued to mount over the Senate leadership change, the chamber’s handling of Dela Rosa and the coming impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
The House of Representatives had voted overwhelmingly to impeach Duterte and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, where senators are expected to sit as judges in a trial involving allegations on confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery and alleged threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and other officials.
“Ay yung halos kalahati ng mga pumirma ay mga dati niyang kapartido mismo sa UP, hindi lang yung mga kagaya ko na kalaban sa politika sa UP,” Montemar noted.
“So medyo talagang sana naman mahiya ang ating Senate President at bumaba na siya,” he added.
Montemar said the Senate must also confront Dela Rosa’s status because he remains counted among the senators who will act on the impeachment process, despite his legal situation and known political loyalty to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“Pangalawa, kinakailangang ikonsidera ng Senado na ma-expel o matanggal si Bato dela Rosa sapagkat hanggang siya ay isang senador, kasama siya sa bilang ng mga senador na kailangan mag-proseso ng impeachment,” Montemar stated.
“At marami nang tao ang tingin ko hindi talagang naniniwala sa kanyang pagiging senador at nasa tamang pag-iisip siya ngayon para magdesisyon,” he added.
The professor was referring to Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief under the Duterte administration, who has been linked to International Criminal Court proceedings over alleged crimes against humanity connected to the drug war.
“Alam naman ng lahat na siya ay isang supporter ng Digong at lalo na ngayon na nakapataw sa kanya ang isang warrant of arrest, basically siya ay isang fugitive,” Montemar stressed.
“Pugante na siya, wala siyang karapatan na maging senador, dapat tanggalin siya sa Senado,” he added.
Montemar said the integrity issue has become urgent because the Senate is expected to perform a constitutional function that requires public confidence, particularly in a trial that will involve one of the country’s highest officials.
“Well gaya nga ng sinabi ko, napakahalagang kahit papaano makabawi ang Senado sa perception ng mga mamamayan kaya kinakailangan mangyari yung sinabi ko na wala si Alan Cayetano sa liderato at si Bato ay ma-expel,” Montemar explained.
“Pero ito ay hindi lamang usapang politika, at ang interes ko dito mainly ay sa consumer welfare,” he added.
Montemar warned that political instability does not stay inside the Senate because it can spill over into the economy, investor sentiment and the daily cost of living for ordinary Filipinos.
“Ang pulitika ay kapatid ng ekonomiya,” Montemar pointed out.
“Sa nangyayari ngayon, hindi malayo na ang inflation rate ay lalong lolobo, lalong tataas ang inflation rate. Yung inflation rate, yung paglobo ng mga presyo ng bilihin ay nakakabit sa mga kaguluhan pampulitika,” he added.
He said business confidence, foreign perception and economic activity can all suffer when political institutions appear unstable or when the public begins to doubt that accountability processes will be allowed to move forward fairly.
“Pagka mayroon tayong instabilidad, ang mga investor ay hindi secure, ang mga businessman ay natataranta at nagkakaproblema pa tayo sa pananaw ng ibang bansa,” Montemar stated.
“At dahil diyan nadadampen, ika nga sa Ingles, o nagiging mabagal ang takbo ng ekonomiya. Ang epekto nito ay sinasalo ng mga mamamayan na sinasalo ang mga presyo ng mga bilihin kaya kinakailangang kagyat maresolba ang mga usapin na ito,” he added.
Asked whether the change in Senate leadership and the disorder in the chamber appeared connected to efforts to delay or derail the impeachment trial, Montemar said the public perception is already running strongly in that direction.
“Sabi nga ng iba, politics is perception, at sa mga nakikita kong lumalabas sa social media at narinig ko sa aking mga networks, karamihan ng mga Pilipino sa totoo lang hindi naniniwala na walang koneksyon sa impeachment ang nangyaring power grab sa Senado o yung kudeta sa Senado,” he added.
Montemar said that regardless of how senators explain the leadership change, many citizens already believe that the maneuver was done to slow down the impeachment proceedings.
“Kahit ano pang sabihin ng mga politiko, nasa isip ng tao ’yan ay ginawa para mapabagal ang pagtakbo ng impeachment proceedings,” Montemar stated.
“Kaya nga kami sa Consumer at Mamamayan, kasi yung aking samahan na kinakatawan dito ay isang Consumer Advocacy Network, ang tingin ko kung nais natin na magkaroon ng tiwala muli ang tao sa Senado dahil sila ang magpo-proseso ng impeachment, may dalawang dapat gawin ng Senado,” he added.
