Arroyo Son Leads Charter Change Bid150 Solons Sign on for Constituent Assembly
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:58:00 11/21/2008
A move to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly is gathering steam in the House of Representatives with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s eldest child leading the signature drive.
Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo’s campaign has secured between 120 and 150 signatures on a resolution calling on the Senate and the House to amend the Constitution by voting jointly and not separately, according to Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr.
“I was approached by Congressman Mikey last week when I just arrived at the session hall. He requested that I sign and when I looked at the papers, this was about Charter change through a constituent assembly,” Gonzalez said in an interview.
“Since this was being supported by the administration coalition … I had no hesitation and signed the resolution,” he said.
Curiously, Gonzalez and other administration solons who signed the bill do not have a copy of the resolution.
A senior congressman, who requested anonymity, claimed that there was only one copy of the resolution passed around.
He said the signatories were told that once the measure secured the required number of votes, it would be used to force the Supreme Court to rule on how the Con-ass should vote to amend the Constitution.
But Gonzalez said that he would not know whether the group could hit the “magic number” of 196 signatures, which represent the two-third votes of the combined membership of the Senate (23) and the House (238).
Mikey Arroyo did not respond to text messages from the Philippine Daily Inquirer seeking his comment.
“From the information that I have gathered, the administration has already 160 congressmen who have signed for an amendment to the Constitution by way of a constituent assembly,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said Thursday.
“That’s dangerous,” said Binay, head of the United Opposition who has announced plans to run as president.
“We should all remain vigilant and always be on guard. We might wake one morning that there will be no more election under the presidential-type of government in 2010,” he told a fraternity gathering in Lucena City.
Click here to read full text.
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There is an appointed time for everything, why can't you wait?
Don't wait for 2010 -- and the people will not wait too. Don't forget that 2008 is the last season of the seven seasons of your protection, as promised beforehand.
If there be any change in the constitution, it must be after 2010. If you insist, call the nation for a referendum. Otherwise, you are making a big political blunder -- if not a national disaster.
If this is the result and meaning of all the maneuverings in the change of leadership in both the lower house and the senate, then the people are left with no other choice but to start organizing themselves again while it is not yet too late.
HEAR YOU CITIZENS OF THE LAND: START THE CALL FOR ACTIVE VIGILANCE!
Let us also be on guard against any group or interest that may take advantage of the situation for their own political agenda or purposes. Let us be wise vigilants because there are many opportunists lurking around.
Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo’s campaign has secured between 120 and 150 signatures on a resolution calling on the Senate and the House to amend the Constitution by voting jointly and not separately, according to Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr.
“I was approached by Congressman Mikey last week when I just arrived at the session hall. He requested that I sign and when I looked at the papers, this was about Charter change through a constituent assembly,” Gonzalez said in an interview.
“Since this was being supported by the administration coalition … I had no hesitation and signed the resolution,” he said.
Curiously, Gonzalez and other administration solons who signed the bill do not have a copy of the resolution.
A senior congressman, who requested anonymity, claimed that there was only one copy of the resolution passed around.
He said the signatories were told that once the measure secured the required number of votes, it would be used to force the Supreme Court to rule on how the Con-ass should vote to amend the Constitution.
But Gonzalez said that he would not know whether the group could hit the “magic number” of 196 signatures, which represent the two-third votes of the combined membership of the Senate (23) and the House (238).
Mikey Arroyo did not respond to text messages from the Philippine Daily Inquirer seeking his comment.
“From the information that I have gathered, the administration has already 160 congressmen who have signed for an amendment to the Constitution by way of a constituent assembly,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said Thursday.
“That’s dangerous,” said Binay, head of the United Opposition who has announced plans to run as president.
“We should all remain vigilant and always be on guard. We might wake one morning that there will be no more election under the presidential-type of government in 2010,” he told a fraternity gathering in Lucena City.
Click here to read full text.
----------
There is an appointed time for everything, why can't you wait?
Don't wait for 2010 -- and the people will not wait too. Don't forget that 2008 is the last season of the seven seasons of your protection, as promised beforehand.
If there be any change in the constitution, it must be after 2010. If you insist, call the nation for a referendum. Otherwise, you are making a big political blunder -- if not a national disaster.
If this is the result and meaning of all the maneuverings in the change of leadership in both the lower house and the senate, then the people are left with no other choice but to start organizing themselves again while it is not yet too late.
HEAR YOU CITIZENS OF THE LAND: START THE CALL FOR ACTIVE VIGILANCE!
Let us also be on guard against any group or interest that may take advantage of the situation for their own political agenda or purposes. Let us be wise vigilants because there are many opportunists lurking around.
