Withdraw Charter change move, solons asked

MANILA, Philippines – Halting moves to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly that could perpetuate the sitting President in power would be the “best honor” the House of Representatives could give former President Corazon Aquino, a lawmaker said on Monday.

This developed as the proposal by Makati Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr. to withdraw House Resolution 1109 calling for a constituent assembly even with the Senate has gathered steam from lawmakers who echoed that the initiative should now be shelved.

But Speaker Prospero Nograles thumbed down the proposal, saying it was up to the individual signatories to the resolution to decide.

"There are close to 180 signatories to that resolution 1109 and each one has the right or the personal privilege to continue or to withdraw from it," he said in a text message.

"It’s not for the leadership to dictate on the authors and co authors how to treat the resolution today or if they feel that Cory’s death significantly comes into play here. It’s the personal choice for each one," Nograles said.

"The members of Congress who signed cha-cha [Charter change] must be the ones who will decide for themselves. We will take the position of Teddy Boy and Gabby under advisement," Nograles added.

Out of respect to the late President, Locsin, who was Aquino’s press secretary and speech writer, had called on his colleagues to junk HR 1109. In a text message, he said it would be a “shameful act” if the chamber pursued it.

Aquino was against the resolution, which was approved by the
administration-dominated lower house.

During the anti-Charter change (Cha-cha) rally in Makati on June 10, a sick Aquino sent a scathing message against HR No. 1109, which was read by her grandson Kiko Dee.

“Here we are again in the midst of the shameful abuses of the powerful that seek to destroy our sacred laws,” she said in Filipino.

“Over the years, I have learned to endure pain and sadness,” she said.

“But perhaps, there is nothing that causes me greater pain than to see our people betrayed again and again by those they have elected to lead and serve them. To those of us who fought long and hard to restore our democracy, the pain deepens at the thought that all our gains have so quickly been eroded.”

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez called on his colleagues to heed Aquino’s call, saying HR 1109 would be “divisive, highly suspicious in its motives and would bring political instability.”

“Tita Cory had said that Charter change before the 2010 election is a threat to democracy. The way to honor her is not just through national mourning of 10 days or a holiday, the best way is for the administration to have its allies withdraw 1109 and stop all together moves towards Charter change,” Rodriguez said in a phone interview.

“The best they can do it they wish to honor Cory, if they wish to
serve our country, if they wish that there will be no political
instability I think is to stop Charter change moves,” he added.

In a separate phone interview, Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said that shelving HR 1109 “has always been my stand and the stand of many I’m sure in the majority.”

“I’m sure that the majority will agree with our position that it’s
useless and it’s futile for us to push the amendment to the
Constitution without the participation of the Senate and the Senate made it clear that it will never participate,” Defensor added.

Speaker Prospero Nograles is expected to gather House leaders to get their consensus on what to do with the resolution upon his return from the United States trip with the President, Defensor said.

Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casino and Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna partylist said it was time to put to rest moves towards a constituent assembly.

“The majority in the House should heed it,” Ocampo said in a text message, referring to Locsin’s proposal.

“Insisting on cha-cha [Charter change] might just transform those millions of mourners into a force that could easily sweep the GMA regime from power,” Casino said.

“Cory refused to even attempt to extend her presidency and it is but fitting to recognize the exemplary legacy of Cory Aquino. Any attempt by a President to perpetuate herself in power is an insult on Cory’s legacy and members of Congress should heed the voice of Cory and the people and officially withdraw their signature and formally archive the House Resolution 1109,” Colmenares said.

Parañaque Representatives Roilo Golez said he hoped the resolution would be withdrawn, adding that most of its proponents were with Aquino in the 1980s.

Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros said the majority in the House would likely listen to the people.

“But this is merely face-saving. They will withdraw this and shelve this hopeless issue and look good before the public,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.

Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr., one of the sponsors on the floor of HR 1109 when it was approved in June, said discussions on the controversial measure should be deferred.

“In view of the national mourning, let us defer in the meantime the discussion of sensitive and delicate issues like Charter change,” he said.

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