Getting burned

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

06/16/2009

Congressional allies of Gloria Arroyo are playing with fire while they continue pushing Charter change (Cha-cha) through the constituent assembly (con-ass).

Yet they, along with Gloria and no doubt her spouse, are taking that risk of being burned mainly because they believe, or perhaps are made to believe by the Malacañang tenant, that the judicial odds favor them and their plans to change the Constitution and get the shift to the parliamentary system going.

This is why Gloria’s House allies continue to announce that, immediately after Gloria’s State of the Nation Address, they will convene themselves as a constituent body to introduce amendments to the Charter, to speed up the so-called justiciable controversy, where they hope, or perhaps already know, that the Supreme Court (SC) will rule in the House’s favor on the issue of joint congressional voting.

Let’s say the SC, at least eight of the justices, which is the majority number, rules in favor of Gloria and her House allies, and interprets the constitutional proviso as joint voting, with the required number, the House then pushes through, except that the Gloria allies will still have a problem with numbers, as it would be almost impossible for them to get the required three-fourths vote — unless of course, the style of voting will again be viva voce, in which case, amendments — nay — a complete change of the Charter — begin in earnest.

But there is yet another problem for the House’s con-ass. There will again be the issue of viva voce voting that will be brought before the high court, and if the high court again rules in the House’s favor, there just might be that social volcano erupting as the high court will be seen by the people as no different from the Marcos SC.

After all, wasn’t the 1973 Constitution tailor-fit for Marcos’ rule acclaimed through a citizens’ assembly viva voce and the raising of hands?

There is, of course, that scenario of Gloria running for a seat in Congress still under the 1987 Charter and ending up as Speaker of the House after which she would push Cha-cha through the con-ass, on the assumption that the high court would have earlier ruled in favor of Gloria and her allies on joint voting. Is this likely to work to Gloria’s advantage, even as she sits as Speaker?

Why should it, when under the present Charter, there is to be a new President who will be --- courtesy of Gloria’s prostituted practices --- all-powerful and who, moreover, would have the Filipino people’s support in blocking Speaker Gloria’s con-ass.

Because as long as Gloria and her allies in Congress push Cha-cha, even after she steps down from Malacañang, there always will be opposition to Cha-cha through the con-ass. The only other way to get Cha-cha going after June 30, 2010, would be through the call by both chambers for a constitutional convention — that is, of course, if Gloria and her SC haven’t been thrown out yet through a revolt.

But even as Speaker, Gloria will have lost her immunity from suit, and there is no reason, given the popular support and clamor for charges to be filed against her and her kith and kin, not to charge her for plunder, at the very least, where she would then face arrest and detention. Where then does that leave her and her protection from suits?

It should be noted, however, that despite the warning from the central bank governor stating that the talk of Cha-cha and con-ass is doing the economy no good, Gloria’s allies continue to keep the talk alive, again despite the clear political instability that it spawns.

That she is encouraging this talk of con-ass is much too evident. She controls her allies through the release of their pork barrel and she is not fooling anyone with her claim that she does not interfere with the business of the legislature.

All she has to do is to tell Congress to stop this Cha-cha business and get on with the presidential elections in May 2010 while she, in her last Sona, finally says goodbye to the nation.

And she can be sure there will be dancing in the streets.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006