We're not as dumb as you think we are, congressman

Cong. Hussein Pangandaman

Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman, a first term lawmaker from Lanao del Sur had allegedly mauled a security guard at the UP-Ayala Technohub at about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011.

SG Ricardo Bonayog said a Porsche bearing the plate number "8" together with a back-up car entered the parking area. The drivers of the said vehicles refused to under go through the required security check, and the occupant of the Porsche approached him and punched him twice.

Pangandaman on the other hand has his own version of the story. In an interview, he said that he doesn't know the story could be fabricated and said the accusations are false. He said sometime last week, he went to Technohub for a meeting with his uncle and lawyer. He was accompanied by a staff. He said he was driving his Porsche. When he tried to enter the parking area, he said he asked nicely if there are vacant slots. He said the guard appeared not to hear anything. However, when the guard checked out his plate number, Pangandaman quoted the guard saying, "Pucha, ocho!". Pangandaman said he left it at that and went inside to park. After he parked, he saw the guard approach him. That's when he asked the guard what seems to be the problem. The guard did not reply. That's when he said the guard acted as if he was going to draw his service firearm. Pangandaman said he stopped him, grabbed his hand and tapped him with the piece of paper he was holding. [ABS-CBN News]

SG Ricardo Bonayog

Weighing the two stories, the former is more believable for me. Who, in his right state of mind would treat a politician armed with body guards in such a way? Acting arrogantly in front of somebody like Cong. Pangandaman is like digging your own grave. Sad I know, but that's the painful reality in our society. With all the reports about missing people, torture of activists and extrajudicial killings left and right, I can't blame if SG Bonayog decided to change his mind and won't pursue charges anymore out of fear for his own life.

Nonetheless, Bonayog said that it'll be good if the congressman will issue an apology for the incident. But instead of saying sorry and admitting that he was wrong, Pangandaman remained firm to his statement.

If I were the guard, I'll continue my complaint against the congressman, especially now that Senator Jinggoy and the House of Representatives are willing to do a further investigation about the claim—as it should be. Anyhow, if something bad happens to me, we all know who to blame.

Still, reporting a blotter and being in the news are already courageous acts for such a common individual. Those acts are enough for Cong. Pangandaman to have a stigma that won't be expunged in our memories.

Also in an earlier media interview, Rep. Pangandaman confirmed he owns a Porsche but said many other congressmen also own Porsche units. [ABS-CBN News]

What a massive a-hole. It's not only the stinking fact that he drives a luxury car with a splurging plate number that costs millions of pesos in a place where many families are starving to death that rubs me. It's his dumbass reasoning that really makes my teeth clench. Just because the other congressmen are doing it, you will also do it? Being a politician is not a license to squander, just like it's not a license to harm anyone.