Charter Change: Fraudulent Constituent Assembly

The Philippines notorious political con artists Gloria Arroyo and Jose De Venecia wants to impose half-baked Philippine constitution to what the acting majority leader Arthur Defensor said was a motion on a matter moris an insult to 80 millions Filipinos. The out-numbered minority members in the lower house cannot stop Malcananang evil forces. Military intervention with the support of patriotic citizens can neutralize these shameful bloodsuckers. REVOLUTION is the answer to fraudulent Arroyo-De Venecia constitution!

When is the right time to call for military intervention? It’s now or never! Calling for military action to stop Arroyo-De Venecia madness to trample the existing constitution is within the bound of law. Fake president Gloria Arroyo is not the State including the shameless congressmen. These greedy traitors want to force a fraudulent charter without public scrutiny and debate. The constitution is the basic law of the land. What happens if the proposed constitution is half-baked or half-cooked? The Filipino people will definitely in the polls. It’s just a waste of time and taxpayers money.

Philippine Constitution 1987
The declaration of principles and state policies principles
Section 3.
Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

Millions of warm bodies is not enough to oust the corrupt Arroyo regime. EDSA Tres as a very large protest rally that was sparked by the arrest in April 2001 of newly ousted President Joseph Estrada. The mass protest rally was held for several days in a major highway in Manila and Malacanang Palace. The protest was led by members of the political opposition Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Vicente Sotto III. Why EDSA Tres was not successful uprising? The military and the police force sided with Gloria Arroyo. Military intervention is a key factor in a successful people power revolt in the Philippines.


The worst is yet to come

The latest version of Malacañang’s charter change via a Senate-less Con-Ass shows the depth of the desperation of Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts.

When I say cohorts, that includes House Speaker Jose de Venecia and his dishonorable gang.

In a text statement, Rep. Roilo Golez (Parañaque) yesterday said: "Last night, I witnessed one of the saddest and most saddening episodes in the history of the House (of Representatives.)

"Akbayan Rep. Mario Aguja was delivering a privilege speech on the impending water crisis when his speech and interpellation was unceremoniously terminated to give way important than the water crisis.

"It turned out that Defensor’s motion was to amend Section 105 of the House Rules stating that resolutions to amend or revise the Constitution ‘shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills.’ Defensor’s motion was to scrap that procedure to allow a constitutional amendment procedure without participation of the Senate.

"It showed utter insensitivity and apathy to the water crisis now facing the nation, especially Metro Manila. And it was a below the belt motion because it constituted changing the rules in the middle of the game.

"The majority relented only when their number dwindled as that motion required approval by majority of all the members of the House. It’s unbelievable how some people would utterly push aside a grave public interest issue to give way to their political interest."

Golez further said: "But as street pundits say, we ain’t seen nothing yet. Expect worse next week when they start their direct assault on the Constitution with their machetes."

Since Monday, Arroyo has been holding meetings with congressmen on this new assault to the Constitution that they are planning. The reported timetable is their version of Con-Ass without the Senate on Dec. 6, a new Constitution that would change the system of government to parliamentary by Dec. 12, a nationwide plebiscite to approve the new Constitution on Feb. 12, and election for members of the Parliament by Nov. 30.

In this scenario, the May elections would be cancelled and the term of offices of the congressmen would be extended for six months up to Nov. 30.

We all know of course that what Arroyo and De Venecia are cooking up is unconstitutional. The Constitution provides three ways to amend the Constitution: Congress, by a vote of three-fourths, convening as a constitutional assembly; Constitutional Convention; and People’s Initiative.

People’s Initiative is out of the question because survey after survey shows that majority of the Filipino people are against changing the Constitution now. A Social Weather Stations survey showed 67 percent of the Filipinos oppose Cha-Cha now while only 29 would go for it. Pulse Asia’s showed 42 percent are against Cha-Cha now with 39 percent in favor.

Those survey figures support the Supreme Court’s judgment that it was a fraudulent "People’s Initiative" that Malacañang stooges, Sigaw ng Bayan and ULAP (Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, presented before the Comelec as its first attempt to change the charter.

Constitutional Convention is not being considered by Malacañang because it takes time and a huge budget.

We can imagine that money is not much of a problem for Arroyo since she has access to government treasury. But she has problem with time.

It’s now December and mid-term election will be held in May. The national sentiment, as reflected in a Pulse Asia survey of senatorial preferences, anybody associated with Arroyo is bad news. In the national level, administration candidates are expected to get a thrashing. "Pupulutin sa kangkungan," is the perfect Tagalog description of the election prospects of Arroyo’s candidates in the May elections.

The local election is a different ball game but there’s a high probability that people’s disdain for Arroyo could be a curse for those running for a seat in the Lower House. A defeat of Arroyo’s candidates in the 2007 elections, would make her vulnerable to impeachment.

Of course, Arroyo can again activate the cheating machinery that worked overtime for her in the 2004 election. But she would need the cooperation of the military.

We have no doubt that AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon would not be so averse to reprise what he did in 2004 as hinted by Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano in the "Hello Garci" tapes but that would really cause more revulsion among members of the armed forces who are conscious of their supposed non-partisan role in elections.

That’s one of the concerns of just-resigned Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz. He felt that he could no longer guarantee to officers that the military will be insulated in the 2007 elections.

Even if she escapes impeachment up to 2010, Arroyo knows the danger she faces once she is out of power. She would be made to pay for the crimes she had committed against the Filipino people. Charter change to her is survival.

We seriously doubt she and De Venecia and all 194 congressmen will succeed with their fake Con-Ass. Even if they get the Supreme Court, without Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, to go along with them, there is no telling what happens with an incensed public and all the institutions damaged.

Sen. Franklin Drilon spoke about Arroyo’s plan to impose martial law early this year which Secretary Cruz had opposed. Cruz, in an interview wit ANC’s Ricky Carandang said US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had warned against it.

A Malacañang source gave us a slightly different scenario contemplated last year, when the hard-liners in Malacañang thought that Arroyo would fall. He said there was a talk of a "Coup-me" the establishment of a junta to be composed of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, national secretary adviser Norberto Gonzales, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. We were told that Arroyo’s brother, Diosdado "Buboy" Macapagal Jr. was included in the junta.

In her desperation, what would prevent Arroyo from coming up with another variation of martial law? The people should be on guard. The worst is yet to come.

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