House of Shame

The possibility that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may stay in Malacañan beyong 2010 is becoming more likely with last night’s approval of House Resolution No. 1109 in the House of Representatives, setting the pace for convening Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass) that will propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution, including the possibility of extending President Arroyo’s stay in power.

The cowards voted Aye. This makes me shudder.

First, leaders of the House of Congress believe that a simple majority of its members can convene a Constituent Assembly, ignoring the Senate and the fact that Congress is a Bicameral body. What happened last night is that the Lower House effectively bypassed the 23-member Senate.

Second, HR 1109 does not categorically state what form of government the country will be adopting, whether it is going to be parliamentary or federal. It becomes apparent that this group has an agenda and that someone in office will definitely benefit.

Third, it is argued that HR 1109 states, in no uncertain terms, that there will be no term extensions, vis-à-vis the sitting President. This is premised on the declaration that there will be elections in 2010. But then again, once it is passed, can the Delegates of the Contituent Assemly (the Congressmen themselves) be held accountable for this premise? Once they are in Con-Ass mode, I believe there is no stopping them from doing what they want.

Fourth, there were really no hearings made on this issue. In fact, even the interpellations were delimited to a couple of people who simple had to put their objections on record.

Fifth, how and when will they call for the Constituent Assembly? Nobody has a definite answer. Not even Prospero Nograles, Speaker of the House of Representatives, nor the sponsors of the bill, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia.

Come to think of it, these cowards voted Viva Voce, as if history would be kinder to them after they committed this dastardly act in the dead of night.

I must quote San Juan Representive Ronaldo Zamora who said, just before the voting was conducted: “We in the minority always know how to lose. Why do we do this? It is to speak for the record. To define what we stand for, always to fight for the day of deliverance. Mr. Speaker, that day will come.”

How utterly eloquent, save that it fell on deaf ears!