Prune the branch: Abolish Congress

CTALK

- CITO BELTRAN

Back in the time of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., a young student of politics allegedly asked FM why he closed the legislative branch of government, particularly Congress, knowing that it was the fountain of political support for him.

According to that student, who is now a veteran politician, President Marcos Sr. said that congressmen had become unwieldy, corrupt and constantly up to no good. The term used was "puro na sila tarantado" (they had turned into troublemakers).

There is some truth to the claim, given that it was the era of warlords, where the term "Guns, Goons and Gold" emerged as a definition of how to become a politician and the Philippines was called the "Wild, Wild West of Asia."

How true the statement alluded to FM is can no longer be fact-checked. But it is interesting to note that in English, the term "tarantado" is described as someone stupid, foolish or "shameless."

Fifty years later, a younger President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. repeated the same term "shameless" or "walang hiya" at the podium of the House of Representatives and the audience inexplicably applauded.

After 50 years, the House of Representatives no longer represents the interest of the people who elected them. The House has been embroiled in charges of corruption, political dynasties, using taxpayers' money to further their stay in office.

Last Monday, the revelations of the Discaya couple regarding who received commissions or pay-offs from their public works projects included several congressmen. The Discaya revelation also showed that members of Congress got the biggest cut, amounting to as much as 25 percent of the budgeted funds.