Angara pushes for holding of 2007 polls

Sen. Edgardo Angara pushed anew yesterday for the conduct of next year’s scheduled polls despite intense government preparations for constitutional changes.

"The two are not incompatible. We can hold the May 2007 elections and push through with the effort to change the Constitution," Angara said.

The veteran lawmaker highlighted the importance of holding the elections, saying it would serve as a "regular audit" of Filipino voters on the performance of elected public officials.

Angara issued reminders that elections can only be suspended based on "strong and exceptional reasons," and that the preparation for Charter change does not merit suspension of next year’s polls.

Expressing his own views on the current people’s initiative case which the Supreme Court will decide on early next month, Angara said it is not the proper way to change the Constitution.

A people’s initiative is good for making simple amendments, not when it involves changes as important as shifting the form of government from presidential to parliamentary, Angara argued.

Noted Filipino constitutionalists support this view, he added.

"If the Supreme Court decides, however, that the nine million signatures supposed to have been gathered by the proponents of the (people’s) initiative are enough, then a plebiscite will be called to decide with finality on the issue," Angara said.

"Under this situation, the proponents have the edge because plebiscites do not lose in the Philippine context," he pointed out, adding this would lead to the cancellation of the May 2007 elections.

Angara said he has no idea how the Supreme Court will vote on the issue but he expressed hope that the high tribunal will decide against it.

Angara is in favor of Charter change through constituent assembly wherein Congress will convene itself to propose Charter changes. — Christina Mendez