JDV blinks, calls off Senate-less ConAss
Expect heavy traffic in certain sections of the City Proper at certain times this week as various groups would conduct massive protests against the House-initiated Constituent Assembly (ConAss) even as House Speaker Jose De Venecia declared over the weekend that the lower chamber would postpone plans to convene a constituent assembly while waiting for the Senate's response on Charter change.
The Ilonggos Movement Against Arroyo's Charter Change (I-March) announced over the weekend their plan to hold protest actions starting today, Monday, to denounce the railroading of Charter change by the administration congressmen.
I-March is composed of various civil society groups from the city and province of Iloilo.
The group will also join the National Day of Prayer called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday, December 15.
CBCP through its president Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo dubbed the House's move as "fraudulently illegitimate and scandalously immoral."
He called on the people to offer prayers for our government as the country is again on the verge of a Constitutional crisis.
CBCP wants amendment of the Constitution to be made through Constitutional Convention (ConCon) where all sectors of the society could be represented in framing the basic law of the land.
On Thursday last week, the House of Representatives passed Resolution 1450 that seeks to convene Congress into a constituent assembly starting tomorrow, Tuesday, to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
The Senate opposed the House move by passing a resolution backing separate voting on charter change.
The senators contend that amendments to the Constitution need the approval of both houses of Congress.
They vowed to boycott the House-initiated ConAss.
Last Saturday, in a surprise move, De Venecia called for a press conference declaring that the House of Representatives is willing to postpone plans to convene a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 constitution.
But De Venecia posed a challenge to the senators: help form a constitutional convention in place of a constituent assembly.
But the senators rejected De Venecia's proposal.
ABS-CBN's news website reported that Senate President Manuel Villar asserted that the Senate cannot be pressured into Charter change, especially without public sentiment.
Senator Sergio Osmeña III for his part said De Venecia's proposal is like adding insult to injury.
Aurelio Bosque, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay, slammed the earlier move of administration congressmen led by House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr. in railroading charter change.
Bosque said the congressmen's move is self-serving and does not truly represent the voice of the people contrary to what De Venecia claims.
Atty. Joshua Alim, a convenor of I-March, said "while it is within their (congressmen) power to amend their (House) rules, it should not be against the fundamental law of the land."
Alim said it is well stated in the present constitution that any amendment through ConAss should have the concurrence of both houses of Congress.
Religious groups El Shaddai led by Bro. Mike Velarde and Jesus is Lord Movement led by Bro. Eddie Villanueva have also opposed HR 1450 and have threatened to hold prayer rallies and mass actions against it.
Under the 1987 Constitution, there are three methods to amend the Charter – a constituent assembly, a constitutional convention and a people's initiative.
A constituent assembly requires the votes of at least three-fourths of all members of Congress.
A constitutional convention needs a two-third vote from all members of Congress then will be submitted for electorate approval.
A people's initiative requires amendments to be directly proposed by the public through a petition of at least 12 percent of total registered voters for each legislative district.
Last month, the Supreme Court junked with finality the people's initiative pushed by pro-Charter change groups.
(With abs-cbnnews.com)