(With apologies to MLQ3’s Congressmen of the Caribbean and that movie.)

The pirates of the House of Reprehensibles have begun their intramurals. What does this mean? Three views:

* The Philippine Experience thinks its payback time.
* Uniffors believes its all about the money (or the jockeying for key positions).
* Atty. Punzi thinks it’s all for show.

I always believed that the Kampi raid on Lakas CMD was more on insurance. Again, we return to 2005, back when Gloria Arroyo almost fled the Fortress by the Pasig. Back when everyone wanted her to resign, Lakas CMD stalwarts Fidel Ramos and Jose de Venecia propped her up, in exchange for her support for Charter Change.

But she is a wily politician, and she knows the Ramos-de Venecia support is conditional. And she knew that Chacha Choochoo train was doomed even before it left the station. She needs majority support in the House to make sure an impeachment will not prosper. So if she chose not to support Chacha, she will lose Lakas.

Hence, the Kampi raid on Lakas CMD.

And now, as Luis Villafuerte flexes Kampi to wrest away the speaker’s seat from de Venecia, are we going to see the end of the Rainbow Coalition?

The fact that Villafuerte et al are jockeying for position means they have the numbers. My question is this: why settle for getting committees when you can get the speaker’s seat? Unless, of course, Villafuerte is bluffing.

When you negotiate, you always make sure you have the upper hand. If you don’t, you bluff. You lose if the opponent has better cards. I see Villafuerte as a veteran political player. I do not think he is bluffing. Kampi must have the numbers.

On another plane, maybe Kampi is sounding out for possible allies within the Coalition, trying to find out if it can get the numbers to install a Kampi for speaker. Again, a dangerous gamble.

Do you still want a unicameral parliament where these buffoons will sit as, er, poker players?

An email is circulating, alleging the reasons why many wanted to be a senator, even thanking Miriam Santiago for her candidness. I wonder no one’s spamming about the pirates of the Batasan. Makes you wonder.

UPDATE: It seems it’s too early to speculate. This news report makes things more unclear.