Congressmen kill, resurrect Charter change in one day

MANILA, Philippines – The Charter change (Cha-cha) initiative in the House of Representatives sprang back to life on the same day it was left for dead yesterday.

Early yesterday, Cha-cha suffered a setback after the Senate-less constituent assembly bill was returned to the committee on constitutional amendments by the committee on rules. But later in the afternoon, lawmakers brought it back to life.

Congressmen voted 22-10 to endorse House Resolution 1109 for plenary discussion.

Just before noon yesterday, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor sent back the resolution of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte to the House committee on constitutional amendments chaired by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega.

The House leadership, through Speaker Prospero Nograles, acted with dispatch, however, and called for an executive session before the Ortega committee convened in a special meeting to discuss the issue.

Ortega told Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño that they could do away with the usual three-day notice to hold a meeting because it was a “special meeting” anyway. The House is pressed for time since it only has two more session days left before it adjourns tomorrow (June 3).

Ortega was quite offended with the decision of Defensor to return the bill to his desk. “The reason for plenary discussion is to have a wider and more comprehensive discussion. All sectors of society are represented here, aside from the congressmen,” he said.

“I certainly believe that there is no need to make a discussion. On the floor, we can make an honest-to-goodness discussion,” he said, echoing Nograles’ belief that for those convinced, no explanation is necessary and for those opposed, no amount of meeting would change their minds.

Ten members of the House opposition bloc voted against the bill. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Rep. Liza Maza of women’s group Gabriela, meanwhile, wanted more committee discussions.

But Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco said the “final decision will be made in the plenary.”

Earlier yesterday, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said it’s back to square one for the Senate-less constituent assembly mode for Charter change because of a “fatal mistake” committed by its pro-administration House proponents.

“I think in their rush, they broke the rules. They (administration allies) committed a fatal mistake that is indefensible. The report did not show that it was approved by the committee (on constitutional amendments),” he told newsmen.

Ocampo said the House leadership – through Defensor – is “uncomfortable to approve” the resolution, owing to its technical defects. “It was only a short two-page report,” he said.

Ocampo had said that House Resolution 737 of Nograles was Cha-cha’s “only vehicle.”

The resolution calls for the lifting of some economic restrictions for foreign investors.

“We will continue to oppose HR 737 in the plenary,” he pointed out.

Still alive

For opposition leader and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, con-ass is still very much alive.

Binay, president of the United Opposition, said House allies of Mrs. Arroyo have been setting the stage for another con-ass bid since last week’s merger of Lakas and Kampi.

“There are doubts whether Mrs. Arroyo was referring to a presidential election or election for members of parliament where she intends to be chosen as prime minister, thereby extending her rule indefinitely,” Binay said.

“The Arroyo administration is proceeding as planned with their Plan A, which is to bring the con-ass issue before the Supreme Court,” Binay said.

“Congress is proceeding with a patently unconstitutional resolution and as a result is provoking political unrest. Contrary to Mrs. Arroyo’s claim that the merged party will pave the way for political unity, the merger will kick start political unrest through Cha-cha,” Binay said.

He reiterated concerns that the military might be used to bully opposition candidates in the coming elections, citing Mrs. Arroyo’s call for an “alliance” between local government units and the armed forces.

He also cited Mrs. Arroyo’s warning to local officials against “flirting with enemies of the state.”

“The administration is simply providing a convenient excuse to deploy the military to the provinces during the election period. Local executives who plan to support the opposition will now have to think twice,” Binay said.

“With the military making its presence felt during the election period and with the threat of being labeled as communist sympathizers hanging over their heads, local executives will have little choice but to submit to the political wishes of Mrs. Arroyo,” Binay added.

P20-M offer

Former President Joseph Estrada wants opposition lawmakers and presidential wannabes to investigate allegations that Mrs. Arroyo is dangling P20 million to congressmen to get their support for another Cha-cha bid.

Estrada said some congressmen have confirmed the alleged Arroyo offer.

“If this report is true, as confirmed by certain congressmen present at the presidential suite of the Manila Hotel last Thursday, the people will have to make their voice heard against this attempt by the incumbent president to stay in power forever,” Estrada said.

“This is too much. We do not want to wake up one day to realize that Arroyo can legally stay in power forever under a parliamentary form of government,” he said.

Meanwhile, San Juan City Mayor and UNO chairman for National Capital Region (NCR) JV Ejercito said former President Fidel Ramos is a spent force but is needed by the administration for its effort to set up a parliamentary form of government.

“Who knows if GMA and FVR are really plotting for an election in 2010, not for president, but for the election of Prime Minister GMA,” Ejercito said.

“We should be careful with the master of deception and psychological warfare,” he said referring to Mrs. Arroyo.

For his part, former senator Ernesto Maceda said he expects discord to affect the merged Lakas and Kampi.

“The Lakas-Kampi merger is a shotgun marriage that is in trouble from the start. I predict many defections to the opposition,” Maceda said.

“It is good that these parties have formally announced its union. At least it is now clear to the voters that they are really the same dog with different collar under GMA,” Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., said. Poe lost to Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 elections allegedly due to massive cheating. - With Jose Rodel Clapano