ConAss a lesson on bad PR

The one good thing the ConAss achieved was it provided students of public relations a perfect example of how to create a public relations disaster.

My friend Congressman Mark Cojuangco who’s rarely pushy or makulit, recently called and insisted that we meet up so he could illuminate me on the finer details and facts of the ConAss process.

In light of the bruising article I wrote about them, I wasn’t sure if meeting up would produce amiable results. But we must always stand up for what we believe in and be confident in our choice of friends and their sanity.

As it turns out, I must praise Mark for being equally passionate in his commitments as well as his willingness to listen and absorb information.

It didn’t matter to him if it was a crowd of one willing listener or dispassionate hundred. He sincerely wanted to explain the other side but not to the exclusion of people’s views or emotions even if it dismissed legislative logic.

LESSON 1: Never say "No Comment" or turn a deaf ear. Those who make an effort will always be rewarded.

For Mark it was clearly a matter of trying to do the right thing and ending up being sullied for it. Since the Constitution provided for Constituent Assembly as well as a mandate to draw up the implementing rules and regulations, Congress was simply doing its job, something that other congresses had ignored for the last 20 years.

As it happens, everybody’s interest in the ruling party would have been served if Congress changed the form of government. Speaker Joe de Venecia would have a better shot at being Prime Minister, President Arroyo could sleep better knowing the future majority in Parliament would be her majority and not one that would readily and willfully oust her.

The Guys in Congress would keep their terms or prolong their power all at less expense. And if everybody was happy there would be ampao for the New Year.

What people couldn’t understand was what happened to all the other good benefits for economic policies, family, and why the rush?

To this Mark countered that a change in the form of government could be considered a risk for the president since politics is a fickle mistress. One can never presume loyalty since each representative is a co-equal.

To put it briefly, Congress had all the right reasons to push for Charter change and saw that the correct tool to use was constituent assembly because it provided both practicality and speed. In order to do so they needed to have the rules for ConAss.

The need for speed was simply a consequence of momentum. Having left the station, it didn’t make any sense to slow down or stop since the train had stayed put for 20 years never addressing the constitutional order for the IRR of a Constituent Assembly.

As it turns out Congress CAN simply suspend all rules as a body presumably on the basis of majority rule. But according to Mark Cojuangco, JDV chose to be democratic even if several Congressmen simply wanted it over and done with.

RULE # 2. When it comes to serious business, Never invite the circus into town.

They certainly did not want the circus that stretched into the night and then into dawn of the next day.

The idea it seems was to get the implementing rules for the ConAss ironed out so that this Congress could initiate the Charter change, then all the other changes could be done in the future.

RULE # 3: Sometimes it’s a good idea to shoot the messenger even before you send them.

I pointed out to Mark that the negative public image or perception of TRAPOS (traditional politicians) is very real and has strong emotional stabs.

Because of the electronic media and an orientation towards youth and good looks, the Messengers of the ConAss who were all TRAPOS past 60 did not solicit support or sympathy. As they say watching them was not a pretty sight.

It did not help the speakers’ cause either that Congressman Louie Villafuerte was cast in the role of "Lawyer" for the majority. It looked too much like Caiphas defending the crucifixion of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. In addition it is never good idea to send in lawyers to defend a lost cause or to do it in darkness since congressmen are not stereotypical hard workers.

All the explanation could have been done by young members of Congress instead of full page advertisements that reached only the AB market and raised additional suspicions such as illegal funding or misuse of government resources.

RULE # 4: Don’t give your enemy a knife to stab you with.

No serious attempts were PUBLICLY made to determine why the Senators did not want to play the game. If this were done in earnest, the Senators would have been forced to perform.

RULE # 5: Ultimatum statements speak of threats or frustration which often backfire.

JDV and his associates were too focused on the agenda that they failed to realize that the Senators simply gave them all the rope to hang themselves with.

RULE # 6: Always consider the opinion or reaction of those who hold power or authority over you.

Congressmen talked about ConAss in their constituencies but somehow forgot about "Imperial Metro Manila" that has consistently and effectively done away with petulant beings.

RULE # 7: Don’t forget the passengers for the train or they might take the bus.

A serious mistake was made when the Majority decided to segment or chop up the many proposed changes in the Constitution.

In the beginning many people were supportive of Charter change. But the House majority failed to harness and make these groups active stakeholders in the process. What they achieved was to convert would be supporters into staunch oppositionists.

As Representatives and co-equals in the House, the ConAss guys failed to consider that in the real world of a Democracy it is not just about majority of numbers but a consensus. You maybe elected representatives of the people, but you are still JUST representatives and NOT THE PEOPLE.