Con-con bill filed in House today

A bill calling for the election of an "austere, non-partisan and time-bound" constitutional convention (Con-con) to propose Charter changes (Cha-cha) will be filed at the House of Representatives today.

A similar measure is also expected to be introduced in the Senate.

Opposition Rep. Abraham Mitra (LDP, Palawan) announced yesterday that he will file the bill to arrest initiatives by allies of President Arroyo bent on pursuing their Cha-cha initiative through Congress converting itself into a constituent assembly.

But Malacañang said it could not block any moves to convert Congress into a constituent assembly, citing its respect for separation of powers.

"This (constituent assembly) is the view of most members of Congress and possibly, members of (ruling party) Lakas, and we respect that and the President said she respects the separation of powers so she won’t intervene in detailed discussions (on that move)," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

"What’s important is that the President has aired her sentiments and let the Senate and the House of Representatives talk with each other so they can choose which mode could be of real help to our progress," he added.

Bunye noted the advantages and disadvantages of choosing the modes in amending the Charter.

While holding a constitutional convention (con-con) is costly, Bunye said one advantage is that it allows the delegates more time to focus on the job as against a constituent assembly where the lawmakers would divide their time amending the Charter and performing their normal legislative functions.

"They (lawmakers) might forget passing vital bills," Bunye said.

Bunye said Malacañang’s perception is that the public wants a con-con as against a constituent assembly which is considered self-serving.

Some Palace officials, however, said a con-con would not only be financially burdensome but also more dangerous since it would allow a complete overhaul of the Constitution.

They also said losers in congressional and local government elections or those no longer eligible to be elected can run as Con-con delegates.

Palace officials pointed out that in a constituent assembly, the lawmakers can set parameters on what provisions of the Constitution should be amended. The opposition could also act as a fiscalizing agent in the process.

Mitra, for his part, pushed for holding of a Con-con to amend the Charter.

He said his proposal is for the election of Con-con delegates to be held simultaneously with the general elections in May 2004.

Mitra said one more slot in the ballot would not be too costly for the government.

The Palawan legislator proposed that one delegate should be elected for each congressional district.

Under Mitra’s proposal, candidates should not belong to nor would they be allowed to receive funds from political parties.

The elected Con-con delegates would only receive honoraria and not fixed salaries for attendance in sessions.

They would be required to hold their sessions in public buildings. Mitra suggested that the huge P250-million Camp Aguinaldo theater would be an ideal place to hold the Con-con.

Mitra also proposed that those elected as delegates would be banned from running in the first two elections to be held under the rewritten constitution.

‘Referendum first’

Negros Oriental Herminio Teves, for his part, said elections for Con-con delegates in May next year "may be premature and counterproductive."

Teves instead proposed that a referendum on Cha-cha should be held coinciding with the general elections in 2004.

He said a referendum is the best option for the people to express their true sentiments regarding Charter change.

Former President Corazon Aquino also expressed her support to holding a referendum first, according to her spokeswoman Deedee Siytangco.

She said Mrs. Aquino has favored a referendum on the issue since it would finally clarify the issue on whether the people wanted to change the Charter crafted under her administration.

Mrs. Aquino proposed that parameters should be set and presented to the electorate who will also decide on the options on how to carry out the amendments or revisions.

A referendum on the issue could be the only legitimate means of presenting the pros and cons of amending the Charter, Siytangco stressed.

And that will be the only time the people will decide whether to move on to amend the Charter, she added.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier expressed her preference for a Con-con, with the election of delegates coinciding with the May 2004 elections.

In this way, the President said, she would not be suspected of pushing for Charter amendments that would enable her to lead the country in another form of government.

Secret plans and agendas

Though Mrs. Arroyo has repeatedly said she will no longer seek a full six-year term as President, a shift to the parliamentary form of government, as proposed by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. could allow her to lead the country as prime minister in case she gets elected as a member of parliament.

For the mainstream communist movement, such declaration of Mrs. Arroyo is her "Secret Plan B" to stay in power, according to rebel spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.

"It did not take a long time for the lame-duck President to finally let the cat out of the bag," Rosal said. "Cha-cha has all along been her Secret Plan B to go around a sure defeat in the 2004 elections."

Earlier, self-exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison said that should Cha-cha push through, Mrs. Arroyo "holds in reserve the possibility of becoming a French-type president in a parliamentary system."

In that event, Sison surmised De Venecia would later be installed as prime minister.

De Venecia has been the prime mover of Cha-cha initiatives at the House, getting support from across party lines to amend the Constitution through constituent assembly.

The House leader has been pushing for a change in the system of government to the French-type parliamentary.

De Venecia repeatedly said he is not interested in seeking the presidency, the vice presidency or the post of prime minister in case the parliamentary system is finally adopted.

Opposition Rep. Ted Failon of Leyte said De Venecia should categorically declare he will not seek the post of prime minister.

Failon said as long as De Venecia and other House members are perceived to be interested in positions in the parliament, " I don’t think that Cha-cha can proceed without strong resistance from the public." – With reports from Paolo Romero, Benjie Villa