The late Sen. Genaro Magsaysay, the brother of President Ramon Magsaysay, had an iron-clad policy while serving in the Philippine Senate of his day which the honorable senators of our own time might do well to emulate as they desperately try to defend themselves against being unceremoniously included in the infamous list of Janet Lim Napoles and its various versions.

Senator Magsaysay worshipped in the church of “No talk, no mistake.” Literally, it preached that in public life, it is prudent not to talk, because this way one avoids making mistakes. Thus, he totally avoided delivering a privilege speech on the Senate floor and participating in parliamentary debates.