Speaker’s move jibes with GMA’s ‘top-priority’ agenda

Palace backs JdV’s revived Cha-cha push

By Sherwin C. Olaes

06/10/2007

Malacañang has announced its support for Speaker Jose de Venecia’s intention to revive his Charter change (Cha-cha) advocacy because it still remains on the so-called top-priority agenda of President Arroyo.

Secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo, during an interview, yesterday said backing such move from De Venecia will help improve the country.

“If (Cha-cha) can be done in a way that unifies our nation, then it can lay the foundation for greater stability, cohesion and responsiveness to the people’s needs,” Saludo added.

Presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol, for his part, is banking on the Speaker delivering on his reported plan to resurrect Cha-cha seeking amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Apostol also yesterday said Malacañang, even if the Supreme Court had junked Cha-cha through the so-called people’s initiative mode, cannot be stopped from pursuing another mode to amend the Constitution.

“It (Cha-cha) can still be revived if we follow the procedure,” he added.

This time, Apostol said, they will have their “ears on the ground first on this matter.”

Presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio, however, also yesterday said he had checked with De Venecia himself if he intends to push Cha-cha at this time and found out that the Speaker just ticked it off as a highlight of his leadership of the House of Representatives in the 13th Congress.

“I don’t believe that JdV (De Venecia’s initials) said he was going to push new initiatives to amend the Charter. I clarified this matter with him during a phone conversation today (June 9). He was delivering a valedictory address at the Batasang Pambansa (that houses the country’s congressmen) on the adjournment of (the 13th) Congress the other day (Thursday). It was only appropriate even necessary for him to cite the milestones and major issues which stood out in the 13th Congress and (Cha-cha) happens to be one of them,” Claudio added.

The Arroyo political adviser is apparently oblivious that De Venecia had vowed that the House of Representatives “will continue to seek constitutional remedies for our endemic political infirmities” and batted for politics that “speaks only for the highest aspirations of the national community.”

Last Friday, or a day after the Speaker bade the the 13th Congress goodbye, he said “(any) mode (to effect Cha-cha) is acceptable” since “(there) is no question that the country needs urgent Carter reform.”

Claudio clarified that the Cabinet had not talked about Cha-cha.

“I don’t believe there had been any discussion on Cha-cha whether in the Congress or in Malacanang or between the two branches (of the government) since there had been failed efforts to convene a Constituent Assembly last year. There’s no need to get excited about this issue. Its not on the radar screen, not on the poll or legislative agenda of the government,” he said.

But an opposition congressman-elect in the House of Representatives, Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) had warned De Venecia from pursuing cha-cha in the next three years saying it is only divisive and may set back other much important legislative measures needed to be passed for the good of the people and this country.

“There should be no cha-cha in the next three years. What is needed for us (legislators) to do is improve the image of our Congress by focusing on issues that would address the economic needs of our country we’re warning him that if he pushes cha-cha, it would affect his bid to maintain the speakership of the House. He would lose votes, and lose in the race,” Rodriguez said.

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