Quiet

Since Martin Romualdez resigned as speaker, the House of Representatives has been a very quiet place. When this chamber of garrulous politicians becomes too quiet, people suspect something macabre is afoot.

- ALEX MAGNO

Part of the peace and quiet at the House is attributable to Romualdez’ successor, Isabela Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy. The new Speaker is about as lowkey as any politician could be.

The unassuming Dy has no grand political ambitions. He has no secret agenda. He has no desire to build his own political base. He only seeks to lead the chamber as it heals from the corruption scandals that tainted many of its members.

And what healing this chamber requires.

The House has been severely disgraced by the corruption scandal. Several congressmen, in addition to the resigned Zaldy Co, are expected to be charged in court over the next few weeks for involvement in the looting. Each day new stories of corruption rackets emerge.

Amidst the turmoil, the House did manage to pass its version of next year’s national budget. But a fine-toothed comb will be run through that version. Already the Senate vowed to take out any unappropriated funds to ensure the transparency of the budget.

The bicameral conference committee to reconcile the House and the Senate versions will be closely observed by anti-corruption groups. This secretive committee, which keeps no minutes of its meetings, was the principal scene of the crime that produced what has been called the most corrupt national budget ever.

Bojie Dy set the tone for his colleagues in the face of such an immense corruption scandal. It is a tone of simplicity and efficient work.