'Move to oust JDV from House an overkill'

MANILA, Philippines - Any move to oust former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. from the House of Representatives will be an “overkill” that could further divide the pro-administration coalition, a lawmaker said yesterday.

De Venecia could generate sympathy from House members if he undergoes proceedings at the Committee on Ethics, Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino spokesman, told reporters during the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.

“He (De Venecia) has been speaker of the House for 15 years whether we like it or not he has loyal supporters that will support him,” he said.

Solis said House members belonging to the northern alliance would break away from the pro-administration coalition if De Venecia is ousted from the House.

House leaders could focus on burning issues like convening Congress into a constituent assembly instead of targeting the Pangasinan lawmaker, he added.

Solis said the Kampi is determined to pursue the approval of resolution to convene Congress into a constituent assembly with the House voting jointly with the Senate.

As of yesterday, the Kampi-sponsored resolution calling for a constituent assembly has already gathered more than 160 signatures, he added.

Solis said as soon as they get the 197th signature, they will invite senators to take part in the proceeding and if they do not want to, Congress would still go on with the constituent assembly.

“The plebiscite can be done simultaneously with the 2010 elections to insure that there will be no term extension of elected officials,” he said.

Solis said the people will be the ultimate judge on the matter of changing or amending the Constitution.

“Constitutional convention is the most expensive and the most uncertain mode of changing the Charter,” he said.

“The process could drag to several years, it will do no good to the country.”