The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
So many things happened last week. The Senate Presidency impasse remains as the blockbuster telenovela since May 11 when Senator Cayetano wrested control of the Senate from erstwhile Senate President Tito Sotto with the dramatic appearance and 13th vote coming from non-fugitive Senator Bato de la Rosa. Of course, there is some palliative measure with the win of Senator Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and thereby accorded Acting Senate President stature with the continuing non-presence of the now Minority group, much to the chagrin of the concurrent Senate President Cayetano, not to mention the protest of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. It would be a lot easier if another senator jumps ship towards the Gatchalian Group to resolve once and for all the question – What is the majority of the Senate of the Philippines? The answer should be simple enough because the total of the Senate is 24 senators which, when divided by 2 plus 1 would yield 13. However, a reading of the Decision of the Supreme Court in Avelino v. Cuenco is used, rightly so, to say that the effective number is only 23 because the detention of Sen Jinggoy Estrada eliminates him from being counted due to inability to perform the duties of his office. It is recalled that the Senator Marcoleta amendment to allow voting by internet was aborted by a timely motion of then Senate President Tito Sotto to adjourn the proceedings of the Senate session tackling the issue.
Likewise, another big news is the surprise deaths of two Ateneo basketball team members undergoing bonding rituals in a resort in Aurora province last week. That basketball is such a big deal for academic institutions escapes my comprehension, but the Philippines being a basketball crazy country, the matter is understandable. We must continue to prioritize lives over academic and sports crowns, and put one life preserved as over and above basketball glory. By the way, two lives were lost, and the people grieve only for one. Even in death, there is no equality.