The Theatre of Disgrace: When a Lawmaker Chooses Slurs Over Statesmanship

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In the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives, the title "Honorable" is not merely a prefix; it is an expectation. It is a burden of conduct assumed by those elected to represent the people. Yet, there is a fine, fragile line between holding power accountable and desperate attention-seeking. Recently, Congressman Eli San Fernando hasn't just crossed that line—he has seemingly obliterated it.

The recent spectacle involving the Congressman hurling the slurs "gago" (fool) and "unggoy" (monkey) at Executive Secretary Ralph Recto marks a new low in our political discourse. It forces a nation to ask an uncomfortable question: Is this the new standard of Congress?

The Descent from Debate to Gutter Language

Political opposition is the lifeblood of democracy. Vulgarity, however, is the weapon of the weak argument.

When a sitting legislator resorts to calling the Executive Secretary—the highest appointed Cabinet official in the land—names fit for a street brawl rather than a congressional hearing, it signals a collapse of institutional respect. This is not about being "tough" or "relatable." This is conduct unbecoming of a public servant.

To verbally assault a fellow government official is one thing; to do so while ignoring the highest court in the land is another entirely.

Facts Over Fiction: The Legal Reality

Congressman San Fernando’s vitriol relies on a narrative that has already been dismantled by the ultimate arbiter of Philippine law. He continues to beat a drum that has long since lost its rhythm.

Let us strip away the noise and look at the irrefutable record:

The Supreme Court has spoken: Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has been cleared.

Zero Liability: The ruling found no abuse, no wrongdoing, and no criminal liability.

The Legislature’s Own Creation: The Department of Finance (DOF), under Recto, was simply implementing a law that Congress itself wrote and passed.

The Retraction: Even former Justice Antonio Carpio, a legal titan, walked back his earlier statements regarding the issue.

When the Supreme Court clears a man, and when legal luminaries retract their criticisms, a true statesman accepts the verdict. A demagogue, however, chooses to ignore the truth in favor of the spectacle. San Fernando chooses the latter, choosing disgrace over the dignity of facts.

The People as Props

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of this political theater is not the insults thrown at a powerful official, but the exploitation of the powerless.

San Fernando has surrounded himself with workers and ordinary Filipinos, positioning himself as the "voice of the masses." But let us be clear: weaponizing the plight of workers to fuel a personal vendetta against an exonerated official is not advocacy—it is exploitation.

Using struggling Filipinos as background "props" to make a press release look more compelling is a cynical political calculation. It creates an illusion of service while distracting from the reality that the Congressman is fighting a battle the law says he has already lost. To claim he serves the workers while using them to amplify his own noise is a contradiction too obvious to ignore.

The Silence of Competence vs. The Noise of Ambition

In this chaotic landscape, the contrast between the accuser and the accused could not be starker.

Ralph Recto has never been a politician who lives for the applause of the gallery. Throughout his career, he has been characterized by a preference for the "unpopular right" over the "popular wrong." He was entrusted with the position of Executive Secretary precisely because the current moment demands steadiness, economic competence, and principle—not histrionics.

Every time a public official degrades his office with vulgarity and spreads misleading narratives, the nation loses. Trust erodes. Institutions weaken. The truth gets buried under an avalanche of theatrics.

The Verdict

We must ask ourselves: Are these antics serving the country? Or are they simply serving the ego of a politician in search of relevance?

Congressman San Fernando may have the volume, but he lacks the veracity. He is trying to tear down a man already vindicated by the Supreme Court, and he is willing to drag the decorum of the House into the mud to do it.

Truth is quiet. It stands firm without the need for slurs like "gago" or "unggoy." Noise, on the other hand, is loud, desperate, and ultimately hollow.

True leaders choose truth. It is time Congressman San Fernando did the same.

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