Are There Still Three Branches of Government?
November 25th, 2007 at 1:00 am (General, National Politics)
Ever since grade school, I was taught that there are three branches of government in the democratic nation state called the Republic of the Philippines. These three branches are the Executive, Legislative, and the Judicial Branches. Each branch is independent from the others. There are three branches so that there is a system of “checks and balance.” I really didn’t understand back then what this meant. But it is clearly etched into my brain.
Now more than ever, the independence of each branch seems blurred. The Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial today asks…
Who’s afraid of the Senate? At the rate sundry officials are perceived to be snubbing its more controversial hearings, the question seems almost quaint, as though the upper chamber were a mere irrelevancy. This is unfortunate, because the Senate’s independence has traditionally been a strong line of defense against an overaggressive Executive.
Traditionally, it is the Senate, rather than the House of Representatives, that has challenged the President and the rest of the Executive branch. It seems, however, that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her cabinet members are forgetting that the Senate is there precisely to provide “checks and balance.” The Senate and even the House of Representatives, exist, not just to legislate. That is their main function, yes. But they also exist to ensure that the Executive and Judicial branches are functioning properly and effectively. It is the duty and responsibility of each branch to do the same.
I am one to admit that some of our beloved senators do have the tendency to grandstand. But that is not to say that they are not doing what they are supposed to do. Arroyo and the cabinet MUST allow the Senate to do its job. The more that Arroyo and her cohorts try to avoid the Senate and their probing inquiries, the less credibility they have.
Attending the Senate hearings and answering all questions sufficiently, if indeed there are not anomalies to be hidden, can only bring out the truth and end all speculation and mud-slinging. The earlier they face accusations, the faster the controversies will be ended.
There are, I hope, still three branches of government in our country. It’s each branch’s task to check on each other. Arroyo and her cabinet MUST acknowledge that.
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Mo said,
November 27, 2007 at 2:38 am
Hi!
Yup, there are still three.
There is a fourth one, they call it “The Press”. The Fourth Estate. Described also the watchdog of the three branches.
But, there’s a fifth one, according to CNN. The Fifth Estate. “Blogs”.
That makes you a member of the Fifth Estate.