Business groups slam constituent assembly

MANILA, Philippines – As the country braces for a rally today against the planned convening of a constituent assembly by the House of Representatives, business groups have joined the chorus of protests against the lawmakers.

“We are appalled at the indecency and blatant disregard of the Filipino people’s will displayed by the House of Representatives in its adoption of House Resolution No. 1109 that allows itself to convene as a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, without the necessary participation of the Senate,” the business groups said in a joint statement yesterday.

The Action for Economic Reforms (AER), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) prepared the statement.

“The question all Filipinos should ask is: For whose interest was this action taken? Certainly not the Filipino people’s, as there is no widespread clamor to amend the Constitution, especially now that we are less than a year away from a presidential election,” the statement read.

“The resolution contains no issue of profound impact on the people’s welfare,” it said.

“By this action of pro-administration congresspersons, any remaining doubts about the determination of the Arroyo administration and its allies in the House to manipulate our democratic processes and institutions to prolong their hold on power have been erased,” the business groups said.

“Malacañang insists elections will be held as scheduled in 2010. But unless its avowals are backed by President Arroyo’s clear and unequivocal rejection of her congressional allies’ maneuverings and an explicit commitment that presidential elections will be held next year, Malacañang’s declarations amount to nothing but more subterfuge and double talk,” they pointed out.

“If and when the House is challenged for the legality of its actions, we call on the Supreme Court to strike down as unconstitutional the results of a constituent assembly that will not have included the Senate in its deliberations,” the statement read.

“The election we look forward to in 2010 is an election for a new President and Congress that will restore the people’s confidence in the government,” it added.

“We call on the Filipino people to vigorously fight and reject this diabolical effort to destroy our democracy!”

All systems go

It’s all systems go for the huge protest rally today in Makati City, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said.

Rally organizers expect to mobilize more than 20,000 people belonging to various sectors including civil society groups.

“We are expecting the attendance of more than 20,000 individuals coming from different civil society, political and opposition groups in Metro Manila. The people coming from the provinces will no longer attempt to come to Manila because they are being blocked by policemen in the past rallies against this government,” an organizer who declined to be named said.

For his part, Binay said today’s protest action may be a “tipping point for another people power revolution.”

“We hope that this will lead to another people power revolution. This might be the tipping point,” Binay said.

Binay met yesterday with Makati City Police head Senior Superintendent Cedric Train and with rally leaders at his office.

“You see that Col. (Senior Superintendent) Train is here. They assured us that the police will not be within the perimeter of the rally site during the entire duration of the rally. Traffic will be managed by the civilian traffic enforcers of Makati,” Binay said.

“This is not a rally of politicians. This is a rally of all sectors. This is an indignation rally against con-ass,” he said.

“We urge other local officials to issue permits to other groups who intend to hold their protests against con-ass in their localities. Rain or rain, we will be there,” Binay said, adding that even the deadly Influenza A(H1N1) virus would not prevent them from going to the streets in protest.

“We will discipline our own ranks,” Binay said.

Train said 100 city policemen will keep a safe distance from the protesters to minimize tension.

The rally’s main venue is the Ayala Ave.-Paseo de Roxas area in Makati.

Teachers’ groups said they would join today’s protest actions.

“By declaring its intention to push through with constitutional amendments without the participation of the Senate, it reveals how desperate Malacañang’s ruling coalition is to prolong its stay in power. Once again, Mrs. Arroyo and her allies are betraying their utter disregard for democratic principles,” Antonio Tinio, national chairman of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said.

“We are joining the rally against the condemnable and inconsiderate action of these ‘honorable’ House members. What the teachers need is salary upgrading, not con-ass,” Benjo Basas, president of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said.

In Bacolod City, a protest rally was staged yesterday by the Negrense United Against Con-Ass, Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod, and civil groups and militant organizations.

Bishop Vicente Navarra, in a statement, called HR 1109 “deceptive, a betrayal of people’s trust, illegal, shameful and immoral.”

On the lookout for saboteurs

Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said they would be on the look out for saboteurs and troublemakers.

“We anticipate that the activity will be peaceful and orderly if only the organizers and participants will stick to the plan and strictly abide by what has been agreed upon,” Espina said at a press briefing.

“As a preemptive measure, we have deployed several control points in the provinces north and south of Metro Manila to check the movement of these persons,” he said.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said 5,000 police personnel would be deployed for Civil Disturbance Management operations.

Espina said the protesters plan to assemble at 3 p.m. at six different locations in Makati City and march to the Ayala-Paseo area.

“Thus, we will not allow mass actions beyond the authorized public assembly venue,” he stressed.

The military’s National Capital Region Command (NRCOM), meanwhile, is on red alert today but Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado stressed that the security preparations have nothing to do with reports of new destabilization plots.

“Our CDMs will only be on standby inside Fort Bonifacio and at Camp Aguinaldo,” Ibrado said.

The military also said it would not allow its men to join today’s protest activities.

“The AFP is mandated to protect the people and the State. The fulfillment of this mandate requires the military to uphold the Constitution and our laws and support the nation’s duly constituted authorities,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

“A scenario of any member of the military engaging, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity except to vote is unacceptable,” he stressed.

No campaigning, please

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo appealed to presidential aspirants who will join today’s rally to refrain from using the event to campaign.

“I challenge them not to use the rally for vested interests or for campaigning, especially now that the election period is near,” Lagdameo said in Filipino in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas. He said the presidential wannabes may just have to mingle with the crowd to show their solidarity and not make any speeches.

“Silent presence will speak loud enough,” Lagdameo said.

Meanwhile, military chaplain Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak said there’s nothing wrong with soldiers and policemen joining the rally but that they should be ready to face the consequence of their decision.

“If a soldier joins because of his right as a citizen, I am certain he will take responsibility for his decision and actions. Whatever happens, he won’t blame it on others,” Tumulak said.

Former President Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, denounced the passage of HR 1109 saying it was clearly ordered by Malacañang.

“Administration congressmen are only dancing to the tune of Malacanang’s orders. Anything is possible under this administration. We cannot just believe their statements anymore,” Estrada said. –Jose Rodel Clapano with Dennis Carcamo, Jaime Laude, Antonieta Lopez, Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda, and Cecille Suerte Felipe, Philippine Star