Warning to Congress

Professors and students of the Western Visayas University have come out with a manifesto which declares their preference for a Constitution to be amended by a constitutional convention, not by a constituent assembly.

In short, they support the Philcomsa position that the best way to amend the Constitution is "through the open, transparent, and broadly participatory constitutional convention.

The professors and students of the West Visayas also vowed to support and join planned nationwide indignation rallies against the Constituent Assembly.

But there was also a sense of urgency in the need to introduce major changes in the present Charter in a manner that is open, transparent and broadly participatory.

The professors and students of the state university also bucked the constituent assembly as highly partisan and self-serving. Instead, they proposed that the members of the constitutional convention be elected in 2004 to coincidence with the synchronized polls.

They cited allegations that include among others that a) members of Congress may remove the anti-dynasty and b) term limit provisions. They also cited the possibility that Congress may extend for three years the terms of senators, congressmen and the unelected president and vice president and local officials until 2007.

In order to save money for the election of Con-Con delegates, these should be elected during the 2004 elections, signatories stressed.

Among those who signed the manifesto were some of the top professors of the WVSU and student leaders.

Among those were lawyer Leopodo Causing, Drs. Andresito Millamera, Silva Hipolito, Professors Lourdes Famucol, Emphaalm Areto, Mylene Menbilla of the student council. Prof. Stephen Legasan, and Julius Algrado also of the student council.

There is now general public distrust of professional politicians, hence the important task of amending our Charter should not be placed in their hands. This is a job that must be placed in the hands of Constitutional delegates who must be elected by the Filipino people.

Dr. Connie Famatid stressed that President Arroyo was right when she said that the 2004 elections must not be postponed. Elections must go on and it should not be tied to the proposed constitutional amendments.

Dr. Millamera and lawyer Causing said the expense of P6 billion for a regular Constitutional Convention is a relatively small amount when it is equated with the objectives of correcting a seriously flawed Constitution and the adoption of an efficient and effective system of government.

If the new Constitution will be able to reduce graft and corruption by one half, there will be savings of around P18 billion per annum, the signatories stressed, citing Senator Ralph Recto.

Dr. Teofilo Rabanas said the streamlining of the bureaucracy, improvement of morale, commitment and adoption of high ethical and moral standards in the government and private sectors will usher in unquantifiable positive results. It may even provide the inertia for the sustained economic growth and development of the country, he added.

Among the other signatories were Ma. Alfleda Ecuge, Dr. Famatid and Zyrill Marzano, student council member.

LTO scandal

Dumaguete City Councilor Urbano Diga Jr. is the only medical professional authorized by the Dumaguete City Land Transportation Office to examine applicants for drivers’ licenses and administer the drug test.

Wednesday, Dr. Diga found himself beleaguered. This was when he spoke out in a privileged speech at the city council, that issuing medical clearances for a fee to applicants without examining them himself did not violate medical ethics.

He claimed he was only helping the drivers and had no intention to deceive.

A complete physical examination like X-ray, urinalysis, and the like will unnecessarily burden economically driver applicants like pedicab drivers," said Dr. Diga.

I could not be in 13 health centers at the same time, pointed out Diga.

The city council approved a resolution calling on the LTO to allow other medical doctors to examine applicants for drivers’ licenses and that drug test result be a part of the findings of the said medical certificate. The resolution was sponsored by Councilor Samuel Dicen.

"It takes a doctor at least 15 minutes to examine a patient. This allows for shortcuts," explained Dicen.

Incidentally, the uproar ensued following an expose by Alex Pal of the Visayan Daily STAR that it was the medical secretary of Diga who had signed and issued him the receipt for his medical certificate sans even a medicum of going through the motions of examining him.