Is the House of Representatives trying to create its own private army?
That was the reaction of some lawmakers to the proposal of House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fari帽as for Congress to have its own law enforcement force with the creation of a 鈥淧hilippine Legislative Police.鈥�
鈥淭he people may say that we are creating a private army for congressmen,鈥� Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano told a press briefing on Tuesday.
鈥淭his is just another unnecessary expense,鈥� he said.
Alejano said a legislative police force would only duplicate the functions of the Philippine National Police, considering that the latter was already fulfilling the requirements asked of it by the two Houses.
Speaking at the same forum, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the proposal was ill-advised.
He said institutionalizing a police force for legislators at the expense of the government might send the wrong signal.
Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin noted that Fari帽as鈥� proposal came on the heels of his invocation of parliamentary immunity for lawmakers who violated traffic laws.
He said the chamber might acquire a reputation as a House of 鈥渋mpunity in privileges and entitlements.鈥�
In his explanatory note for House Bill 6208, Fari帽as noted that Congress was currently relying on law enforcement agencies under the executive branch of government to protect lawmakers and execute contempt orders.
鈥淭he reliance of Congress on the law enforcement agencies 鈥� impairs, to a large extent, the independence of Congress from the executive department,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he system of checks and balances fundamentally requires the independence of the branches of government and only through such independence that the ends of government are better achieved,鈥� he said.
Fari帽as added that Congress does not have enough manpower and capability to protect legislators when they perform duties and consult constituents outside their offices.
Under his proposal, the legislative police will be governed by a board chaired by a retired military or police general jointly appointed by the Speaker and the Senate President.