DAPAT itaguyod ng gobyerno ang panuntunan ng batas sa pagtugon sa pandemya ng COVID-19, lalo na sa pagprotekta sa mga tao laban sa mga pang-aabuso, ayon kay Senador Richard Gordon.
Sinabi ni Gordon na tungkulin ng Kongreso, lalo na ang Senado, na gamitin ang kapangyarihan nito sa pangangasiwa upang matiyak na ang pondo ng publiko ay maingat na ginagastos.
“We are tasked to perform the act of protecting the Senate, of protecting the institutions of the Constitution, maintaining our duty to balance the powers and most importantly, of ultimately protecting the people from corruption, rapacity, and abuse of power which run counter sometimes to presidential acts,” ani Gordon.
“We act not merely to assert our constitutional prerogatives, but also to ensure that the balance of powers (among branches of government) remains stable, which is the very essence of democracy,” dagdag pa ng mambabatas.
Tinutukoy ni Gordon ang patuloy na imbestigasyon ng Blue Ribbon committee, na kanyang pinamumunuan, sa P42-bilyon na anomalya sa katiwalian na kinasasangkutan ng administrasyon sa pagkuha ng medical supplies.
Sinabi ni Gordon na dapat igiit ng Kongreso ang mga prinsipyo ng separation of powers at ang kapangyarihan nito sa checks and balances, lalo na laban sa mga populist leaders.
“The rise of populist leaders throughout the world who try again and again to erode traditional and constitutional balance, attempting to arrogate unto themselves powers and privileges constitutionally allocated to other departments does not augur well for our future,” ayon kay Gordon.
“Now is a time better than any for those of us, upon whom our laws have assigned mandates and duties to perform, to ensure that the balance is maintained; and where the balance is skewed, to ensure that the balance is restored,” dagdag pa ng mambabatas.
