‘Con’ and ‘Ass’

Many past actions and events in our legislative chamber aptly called the “Lower House” have jolted and shocked the public because of lack of any sane explanation. But its passage of Resolution 1109 constituting itself as a Constituent Assembly (Con Ass) to amend the Charter is the real shocker. It is by far the most deceitful, densest, inconsiderate, insolent and shameless act of that body supposedly composed of “distinguished and honorable representatives of the people”.

As representatives of the people they know, or are expected to know that an overwhelming majority of their constituents do not want to Cha-cha at this time even if the Charter really cries for sorely needed changes. But for so many millions of selfish reasons (P20 million?), they defied and completely ignored this overwhelming sentiment.

In the olden days, most of their seats were occupied by people who are called “solons” because of their wisdom. Thus if they are of the same mould as the “solons” of the past, they would have found no more need to go to the Supreme Court which would anyway just tell them that our Congress is composed of two chambers: their chamber also called the House of Representatives and the Upper Chamber called the Senate; so that when the Constitution requires a vote of three-fourths of the members of Congress to convene a Con Ass to change the Charter, it could never mean three fourths of the members of their chamber or of the House of Representatives only.

Common sense and experience also tells us and must have told them also that it takes time to change the Charter; that it should not be done hurriedly because it is the most important document of a State or country; nor could it be done in a period of one year especially when there are other more vital problems facing the nation and when another crucial political exercise has to be held in a matter of months. Obviously our Congressmen and women chose to heed dictates of somebody else than follow their common sense. Why? Your answer is as good as mine.

For a while these “honorable” representatives of the people have led us to believe that Cha-cha is dead for now. In fact the principal sponsor of 1109 has already dropped his pet proposal like a hot potato. They even arouse people’s attention and focus on the forthcoming presidential elections with the much ballyhooed union of Lakas and Kampi — the two political parties where most or all of them belong and which are allegedly equipped with well oiled machinery and bottomless pocket, reminiscent of the infamous KBL during the Marcos era. Then with nobody looking and literally like “thieves in the night” they held a marathon session up to almost midnight where they went through the motions of apparently deliberating and debating on resolution 1109 until the “ayes” outshouted the “nays”. “Pinagpuyatan talaga” as some observers quipped. Again, why?

These latest shocker from the Lower House is really difficult to explain. So speculations are unavoidable as usual. Indeed talks are already floating that those Congressmen who shouted their “ayes” to 1109 got additional P20 million more of pork. Sources say that shortly after the Lakas-Kampi merger last Thursday, May 28, 2009, President GMA met with her allies and gave the marching orders regarding the Con Ass with offers of additional pork barrel funds and cash. Of course Malacanang has denied such meeting and I hope it is not really true. But if it is, we are indeed dangerously entering into one of the darkest hours and lowest points in our country’s political history.

Out of this “Con” and “Ass” brought unto us by our honorable Congressmen and women, we can however draw some important lessons. First lesson is that in case we finally change our Charter at the appropriate time, the amendments to be given priority must be on the legislative body. Congress should be unicameral and the body that should be abolished is the House of Representatives. The second lesson is that if we convert Congress into a unicameral body and members are elected the same way we choose our Congressmen now, we should not shift to the parliamentary system but stick to the Presidential form of government.

The House of Representatives should be abolished mainly because its members are elected locally within more compact areas where voters choose them more out of gratitude or utang na loob for the patronage and assistance they received. Voters in their districts usually obey the “loaded” suggestions and “irresistible” coaxing of political leaders or patrons in their areas which is the reason why we now have the “command votes”. Thus the elections of congressmen or women do not customarily reflect the will of the electorate and the real voice of the people. Actually they are elected through the wishes of the local leaders and their secret backers who are usually the drug or gambling lords in the area or the ruling political dynasties who could easily manipulate voters in choosing their handpicked candidates. Actually, this amendment refers more to manner of electing the members of the unicameral body which should be on the regional or national level like the present Senate.

Secondly it is not advisable to shift to parliamentary system if we will elect the members of the parliament in the same way we elect the members of the House of Representatives now. To do so will only result in having a Prime Minister or head of government who is not really the choice of the people but of the political patrons and their ward leaders in the local government units down to the barangay level whose support he has mustered because of “unlimited” resources and nationwide network.

But for the present, we should continue to express our outrage against this Con Ass and perhaps mount another massive rally like that gathering of more than a million at the Luneta when Ramos tried to change the Charter.  –Jose C. Sison, Philippine Star