Jess Diaz and Delon Porcalla
Philippine Star

MANILA – President Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives aim to amend the Constitution next year and shift to a parliamentary system of government before the 2010 elections.

They insist that the House, acting as a constituent assembly, can approve proposed amendments to the Constitution by a three-fourths vote of all its members without the Senate.

The Constitution does not require three-fourths vote of the Senate and three-fourths vote of the House for the approval of constitutional amendments, according to Mrs. Arroyo’s allies. This view is expected to be challenged before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, 23 House members, mostly from the 28-member opposition bloc, filed yesterday a resolution seeking to counter the move of pro-administration lawmakers to introduce amendments to the Constitution.

The main authors of House Resolution 888 are Representatives Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan of Gabriela and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis.

Joining them were former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Representatives Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas, Edno Joson of Nueva Ecija and Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya.

Other lawmakers supporting their cause come from parties affiliated with the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

Resolution 888 aims to reject any and all moves to amend the Constitution before the 2010 elections including the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly.

However, Speaker Prospero Nograles said any move to amend the Constitution does not include term extensions of incumbent elective officials, particularly President Arroyo.

“We will never countenance a mockery of our people’s will,” he said.

“It is also the overwhelming sentiment of the dominant Lakas-CMD and its allies in the majority coalition to shun term extension of incumbent public officials under the guise of constitutional reforms.”

Nograles sits as president of Lakas-CMD, replacing De Venecia.

Nograles said some political have persistently employed disinformation and fear campaigns to thwart opportunities for reforms.

“Under my watch, the primary precondition for any move to amend the Constitution is to exclude any proposal to extend the term of elective officials. If we want Cha-cha, we should do it for the right reasons,” he said.

Nograles said he advocates a continuing public consultation on the matter of public governance and constitutional reforms.

“We’ll surely listen to the true sentiment of our constituents,” he said.

“I will never join anyone, if any would, in presiding over the death of our democracy. Procrastination is the venom of that kills opportunities to make things better for the country.”

Meanwhile, Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino spokesman, said yesterday Mrs. Arroyo’s allies plan to complete the process of amending the Constitution next year.

“We hope this is finished next year so that we can have elections in 2010 not for president but for membership in parliament,” he said.

Speaking at the Serye Café’ news forum in Quezon City, Solis said more than 150 House members have already signed the Kampi resolution calling on the Senate and the House to convene as a constituent assembly.

“I am one of those who signed it,” he said.

The resolution’s principal authors are Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, Kampi president, and Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia.

Over the weekend, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, spokesman for the group behind the newest Cha-cha initiative, said Mrs. Arroyo would be qualified to run for parliament after the nation shifts to the parliamentary system.

“We are against term extension, but if the 2010 elections would be for membership in parliament, the President should be qualified to run,” he said.

“If she wins in her district, she can seek the position of prime minister, who will be elected by parliament.”

Mrs. Arroyo’s allies aim to obtain 198 to 200 signatures to bypass the Senate when the House convenes as a constituent assembly.

That number represents three-fourths of the combined membership of the Senate and the House.

Senate minority wary of Cha-cha

Senators from the minority are wary about a Malacañang move to speed up Charter change.

They urged Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the majority to come out with a categorical stand against Cha-cha and moves to extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano challenged the majority to issue a “very strong categorical statement” on Cha-cha.

“I believe in the integrity of Senator Enrile, our Senate president,” Cayetano said, adding the law would not just be flouted and that the people are now waiting for “a very strong and categorical statement from the Senate” as an institution that it would not allow Cha-cha before June 30, 2010.

Cayetano said once the parliamentary system is in place a prime minister would assume office and there will be no term limits for members of the new Parliament.

“Even the one year extension is deceptive,” he said.

Sen. Manuel Villar said the Supreme Court remains the “court of last resort” pertaining to Charter change moves, particularly on the voting provisions.

“There are so many legal questions which may be raised in the near future,” he said.

“We know that they have plans at the lower house wherein they want to act (in favor of Cha-cha) on their own. They are lucky if there will be some senators who will join.”

Enrile said the Senate, with its present composition, cannot move to amend the Constitution.

“To amend the Constitution at this time, with the present composition of the Senate and the attitude of each senator that I know, especially those in the old minority and they are now fused with some members of the old majority in the Senate, it is impossible to propose, to approve any proposal to amend the Constitution because you need 18of the senators,” he said.

Enrile rejected Cayetano’s call for the Senate to come up with a resolution to clarify its official stand against Cha-cha.

“If they want to do that, I have no objection,” he said.

“Anybody can file a resolution. But there’s no need. I don’t think Villar will vote in favor of any Charter change.

“The two Cayetanos. I don’t know the minority leader because he’s an advocate of federalism.”

Enrile said he does not know the position of Sen. Joker Arroyo, who is allied with the administration, but that Senators Francis Pangilinan and Noynoy Aquino would oppose moves to amend the Constitution, along with majority Senators Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal, Roxas and Rodolfo Biazon.

“I do not know about Senator Arroyo,” he said.

“I’m sure Kiko Pangilinan will go against it so apat na yun. And then you have Lacson, Legarda, Madrigal, Aquino, Roxas and Biazon.

“All of these people, in my reading, will not vote in favor in Cha-cha. That’s why I’m telling you that based on my assessment of the Senate, it is impossible to approve, to get 18 senators to approve any proposal to amend the Constitution.”

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri downplayed speculations that Cha-cha is a top priority of the Senate.

“It’s not in our priority agenda,” he said.

“We’d like to warn our colleagues in the House not to do it alone because the sense of a bicameral or legislative body of the country is in the Constitution. They cannot do it alone.”

MBC bucks Cha-cha

The Makati Business Club (MBC) opposes plans to amend the Constitution to extend President Arroyo’s stay in power.

In a statement, the group said it is against any move to postpone the 2010 elections.

“The world is experiencing the worst financial crisis in decades and the Philippines will not be spared the ill effects of this crisis,” read the statement.

“The full extent of the negative impact on our economy has yet to unfold. Given such circumstances, what the country needs at this time is certainly not the haphazard change of the fundamental law but a strong and credible leadership that enjoys the support of the Filipino people.”

The MBC said Mrs. Arroyo no longer has the support and confidence of a majority of Filipinos, not only because she continues to serve under a dubious mandate, but for the corruption scandals that have marked her administration.

“The Filipino people look forward to national renewal through general elections in 2010,” read the statement.

“We see the 2010 elections as the means by which we will elect leaders who will lead our country, hopefully with new vision and proven integrity, toward progress and a better life.”

The MBC said any attempt to cancel the 2010 national elections would be met with the strongest opposition from all sectors of Philippine society.

“Such a subversion of the people’s will would render our nation demoralized, at a time when we need to be strong to face the serious challenges ahead of us,” read the statement.

“The Makati Business Club, in concert with other key sectors and the vast majority of the Filipino people, will do all we can to assure that the 2010 elections take place.”

— With Perseus Echeminada, Christina Mendez, Michael Punongbayan