Families of pre-martial law senators condemn ‘disgraced’ Senate, invoke legacy of honor and public service

MANILA, Philippines — Families of several prominent pre-martial law senators issued a scathing statement on Monday, saying the present Senate has strayed far from the standards of integrity, competence, and public service that once defined the institution. In a statement dated June 1, relatives of former senators including Jose “Pepe” Diokno, Jovito Salonga, Lorenzo Tañada, Raul Manglapus, Eva Estrada Kalaw, Sergio Osmeña Jr., and others declared: “This is not the Senate we once knew.” The group contrasted what it described as the discipline and patriotism of past lawmakers with what it sees as a decline in the chamber’s moral standing and credibility. They said the senators of their generation entered sessions prepared, studied legislation thoroughly, guarded public funds, and viewed public office as a sacred duty rather than a platform for personal gain or public spectacle. “There were no rehearsed displays of piety. No public weeping. No vulgar theatrics. No shameless scrambling for attention. No drama masquerading as patriotism…Only work. Honest work. Patriotic work.” they said. The statement then turned sharply critical of the current Senate, accusing many members of operating under what it called a “dark cloud” of serious allegations, including corruption, abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and other offenses. “The Senate, once the forge of our laws, has become a refuge for those who brazenly violate them,” the families said. Without naming specific senators, the group urged Filipinos to “count the lawmakers who have become lawbreakers” and question whether the institution remains worthy of public admiration. The statement comes amid heightened political tensions in the Senate following recent clashes between administration and opposition-aligned lawmakers, as well as controversies surrounding investigations, accountability issues, and allegations exchanged by rival political camps. “Numbers do not confer honor. Power does not erase disgrace. And no majority vote can cleanse moral rot,” they added.

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