Joke Time in the Senate: When Loyalty Outranks Competence, the Nation Pays the Price

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippine Senate is beginning to resemble a parody of itself. But make no mistake—this is no comedy show. It's a national tragedy, and the punchline is hitting us right where it hurts: our future. In what can only be described as a dark farce unfolding in real time, the distribution of Senate committee chairmanships has exposed a deep rot within our institutions—where expertise takes a backseat, and loyalty to political tribes becomes the only ticket to power.

“Payback time?” The Duterte bloc’s support for Senate President Chiz Escudero has borne fruit—spoiled, bitter fruit. The ones reaping the spoils? Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, and Robin Padilla—now crowned with the most committee chairmanships.

Escudero defends the selection with a straight face: appointments were based on advocacy and core competence. Really? Let’s test that claim.

Robin Padilla: The Constitutional Clown

Senator Robinhood Padilla now chairs not one, not two, but three committees: Constitutional Amendments, Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, and Public Information and Mass Media.

Let that sink in.

Padilla, an actor with no legal background and certainly no credentials in constitutional law, is now leading the committee responsible for crafting potential changes to our nation’s very charter. His only real contribution to the constitutional debate? His zealous push for federalism under his political idol, Rodrigo Duterte. That’s not competence—it’s cosplay. If anything, he’s more suited to chair a committee on facial hair grooming.

Rodante Marcoleta: The Blue Ribbon Enforcer

Then there’s Rodante Marcoleta, now wielding power as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee—the body meant to spearhead high-profile investigations. This is the same Marcoleta who, during Duterte’s reign, led the demolition job against ABS-CBN, using his power not to seek justice but revenge. He is no stranger to political vendettas, and in the wrong hands, this committee becomes a weapon, not a watchdog.

Add to that his ties to the influential Iglesia ni Cristo, known for flexing its political muscles when convenient, and it becomes painfully clear: Marcoleta’s appointment isn’t about competence—it’s about control.

And let’s not forget: Marcoleta is a staunch ally of Vice President Sara Duterte. He was endorsed by her in the last election and continues to defend her during inquiries into the misuse of confidential funds. This is not impartiality—it’s payback in its most dangerous form.

Bong Go: From Photobomber to Public Health Patron Saint

Bong Go—ever the loyal sidekick—now owns the word “malasakit,” as though compassion itself were his intellectual property. He has inserted himself into the narrative of public healthcare despite the fact that many of these reforms were the work of existing agencies.

But here’s the real scandal: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) once referred to him as a “close friend” of Lin Weixiong, the Pharmally executive at the center of the overpriced pandemic supply scandal. Pharmally, you’ll remember, became a symbol of corruption under Duterte. And yet, Go remains untouchable—now entrenched in positions of power with barely a whisper of accountability.

Bato dela Rosa: The Irony of Public Order

The most grotesque irony? The appointment of former police chief and drug war architect Bato dela Rosa as chairman of the public order committee.

Under his watch, thousands of lives were lost in Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaign—many without trial, some without evidence, and all without justice. The man synonymous with impunity now chairs the very committee that’s supposed to uphold order and justice. You can’t script a darker joke than that.

Imee Marcos: Red Flags in Foreign Relations

Senator Imee Marcos—sister to President Marcos Jr.—is another curious case. Intellectually capable, yes, but politically compromised. Her previous stint as Foreign Relations chair saw her making statements sympathetic to China not once, but multiple times. Recently, she called for a hearing to grill the DOJ for cooperating with the International Criminal Court in relation to former President Duterte—going so far as to cite a bogus memo to discredit them. For someone tasked with foreign diplomacy, that’s not strategy—it’s sabotage.

The Villar Dynasty: Conflict of Interest Personified

Enter the Villar siblings: Camille and Mark.

Camille Villar now sits where her mother, Cynthia, once stood—blocking the long-overdue land use bill that would regulate the rampant conversion of farmlands into subdivisions. Camille, heiress to one of the country’s richest business empires, will now oversee environmental violations of big corporations. Imagine asking the fox to guard the henhouse.

Meanwhile, Mark Villar chairs the committee on public works—despite glaring concerns over conflict of interest. During his term as DPWH secretary, PrimeWater—owned by their family—expanded rapidly, bagging contracts across the nation. That very same company is now under investigation for poor service. And yet, he gets to hold the gavel over infrastructure? We should be outraged—but they’re counting on our silence.

What Happened to Statesmanship?

Gone are the days when committee chairs were entrusted to titans of integrity and intellect—Jovito Salonga, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Joker Arroyo, Nene Pimentel, Loren Legarda. Whatever their political leanings, they commanded respect. They were chosen for what they knew, not who they served.

Today, the Senate looks more like a rewards program for loyalty points than a chamber of serious governance. The appointments are not about advocacy, nor about expertise. They’re about fealty to faction, allegiance to past presidents, and convenience for the political elite.

The Joke’s On Us

This isn't just a Senate reshuffle—it’s a redistribution of power among the most loyal foot soldiers of a decaying political dynasty. It's a symptom of a system where ethics are optional, competence is negotiable, and loyalty is the only currency that matters.

And so we laugh, but the tears come first.

This is Joke Time in the Senate, and while they grin behind closed doors, we—the people—are the punchline.

Let that sink in before it’s too late.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.