“Palabra de honor” is a time-honored Filipino value that demands a sense of truthfulness, honor and reliability. We honor them by fulfilling our commitments even without any legal document. In this case, the parties even chose, for posterity and for all the world to see, to enter into a Covenant, making theirs a formal, solemn and binding agreement.
From Cong. Lord Allan Velasco:
Trust and honor are values that are important, especially in
these trying times. They reveal our true character and show what we, as
leaders, are truly made of.
And it is in this period of difficulty that our people yearn
for honorable leaders whom they can trust–– Leaders who are able to live up to
their promises come hell or high water, Leaders with Palabra de honor who lead
not with lip service, but who back up their words with action.
When the House Speakership term-sharing agreement was
entered into, it was based on mutual trust and confidence. After all, it was an
agreement brokered by and forged in the presence of no less than President
Rodrigo Duterte.
The covenant was crystal clear: a 15-21 term-sharing
agreement. The first term expires on Sept 30, after which the second term
immediately begins. That was the pledge made before the President. As true
leaders and as examples for our people, both sides are obligated to avoid
situations or statements that would subvert the agreement and betray the trust
of our people who’ve stood witness to the covenant.
Let us uphold the agreement as this was made “FOR GOD AND
OUR COUNTRY 1521”. I have always
intended to honor the agreement. We all should. Our people deserve nothing
less.
