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Betraying the Planet
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: June 28, 2009
So the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate-change bill. In political terms, it was a remarkable achievement.
But 212 representatives voted no. A handful of these no votes came from representatives who considered the bill too weak, but most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases.
And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking that I was watching a form of treason — treason against the planet.
To fully appreciate the irresponsibility and immorality of climate-change denial, you need to know about the grim turn taken by the latest climate research.
The fact is that the planet is changing faster than even pessimists expected: ice caps are shrinking, arid zones spreading, at a terrifying rate. And according to a number of recent studies, catastrophe — a rise in temperature so large as to be almost unthinkable — can no longer be considered a mere possibility. It is, instead, the most likely outcome if we continue along our present course.
Thus researchers at M.I.T., who were previously predicting a temperature rise of a little more than 4 degrees by the end of this century, are now predicting a rise of more than 9 degrees. Why? Global greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster than expected; some mitigating factors, like absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans, are turning out to be weaker than hoped; and there’s growing evidence that climate change is self-reinforcing — that, for example, rising temperatures will cause some arctic tundra to defrost, releasing even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Temperature increases on the scale predicted by the M.I.T. researchers and others would create huge disruptions in our lives and our economy. As a recent authoritative U.S. government report points out, by the end of this century New Hampshire may well have the climate of North Carolina today, Illinois may have the climate of East Texas, and across the country extreme, deadly heat waves — the kind that traditionally occur only once in a generation — may become annual or biannual events.
In other words, we’re facing a clear and present danger to our way of life, perhaps even to civilization itself. How can anyone justify failing to act?
Well, sometimes even the most authoritative analyses get things wrong. And if dissenting opinion-makers and politicians based their dissent on hard work and hard thinking — if they had carefully studied the issue, consulted with experts and concluded that the overwhelming scientific consensus was misguided — they could at least claim to be acting responsibly.
But if you watched the debate on Friday, you didn’t see people who’ve thought hard about a crucial issue, and are trying to do the right thing. What you saw, instead, were people who show no sign of being interested in the truth. They don’t like the political and policy implications of climate change, so they’ve decided not to believe in it — and they’ll grab any argument, no matter how disreputable, that feeds their denial.
Indeed, if there was a defining moment in Friday’s debate, it was the declaration by Representative Paul Broun of Georgia that climate change is nothing but a “hoax” that has been “perpetrated out of the scientific community.” I’d call this a crazy conspiracy theory, but doing so would actually be unfair to crazy conspiracy theorists. After all, to believe that global warming is a hoax you have to believe in a vast cabal consisting of thousands of scientists — a cabal so powerful that it has managed to create false records on everything from global temperatures to Arctic sea ice.
Yet Mr. Broun’s declaration was met with applause.
Given this contempt for hard science, I’m almost reluctant to mention the deniers’ dishonesty on matters economic. But in addition to rejecting climate science, the opponents of the climate bill made a point of misrepresenting the results of studies of the bill’s economic impact, which all suggest that the cost will be relatively low.
Still, is it fair to call climate denial a form of treason? Isn’t it politics as usual?
Yes, it is — and that’s why it’s unforgivable.
Do you remember the days when Bush administration officials claimed that terrorism posed an “existential threat” to America, a threat in whose face normal rules no longer applied? That was hyperbole — but the existential threat from climate change is all too real.
Yet the deniers are choosing, willfully, to ignore that threat, placing future generations of Americans in grave danger, simply because it’s in their political interest to pretend that there’s nothing to worry about. If that’s not betrayal, I don’t know what is.
SOURCE: The NY Times Online, 29krugman.html
Photo by Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times
| Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
RP told to form crisis agency |
| By Darwin G. Amojelar, Senior Reporter
ALARMED by the impact of the global economic turmoil, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is pushing the Philippines to create a task force headed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to respond to the global economic crisis. Documents from NEDA showed that a crisis-monitoring unit would be maintained at the agency as the regular arm of the Task Force for gathering, generating and disseminating information. The proposed task force came on the heels of gloomy projections of trade flows, overseas remittances and foreign direct investments. “With this situation, it can be inferred that the crisis threatens to weaken the Philippines’ accomplishments in reducing poverty and inequality. At stake is the large share of the population is highly vulnerable to negative shocks and at the risk of falling further below the poverty line,” the UNDP said. The UNDP said incomes and revenues are expected to fall, adding that government, private sector and household spending will be tight. “Significant reversals are thus foreseen in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 where the Philippines has so far made significant gains,” the UN body said. It said the challenge posed is on how the international development community can help developing countries like the Philippines mitigate the impact of the crisis and respond to the threats to the achievement of the MDGs by 2015. “In this regard, a Task Force Response to Global Crisis (TFRC) composed of the international development community is proposed mainly to bring to focus the response to the global crisis in the context of MDGs. The proposed TFRC will be coordinated by the UN system with the latter playing the crucial role of mobilizing and positioning the work of the TFRC in the context of the global economic crisis and its impact on the MDGs,” the UNDP said. The proposed Task Force will have a one-year lifespan, the extension of which will depend on how the global crisis turns out. “As suggested by the World Bank . . . the crisis monitoring unit should have both short-term and long-term functions and will function within NEDA even after the crisis to continue to serve as a rapid monitoring unit of the government on socio-economic issues,” the UNDP said. The UN agency said the task force should monitor the impact of the global crisis on vulnerable groups in the Philippines, design and implement a range of safety net programs for the poor, and evaluate the effectiveness of emergency policies and programs put in place. The UN body said the overall responsibility for the crisis monitoring and response system will rest with NEDA as the coordinating and operations center. NEDA should mobilize its central office for national data and its regional offices in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government for local government units for data on those areas. The UNDP said the Philippines could draw from the experience of Indonesia on how its government through the National Development Planning Agency is responding to the global crisis. Rolando Tungpalan, NEDA deputy director general, said the government is still studying the UNDP proposal. He said any task force should look beyond the present crisis, but that the government should tap the National Statistics Office, National Statistical Coordination Board, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others for data to minimize funding requirements for the crisis response scheme. Source: The Manila Times Online, 20090625bus1.html |
Retiring in the Philippines
By Atty. Mike Templo | 06/13/2009 12:34 PM
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Most, if not all, Filipinos that I’ve spoken to abroad all dream of retiring in the Philippines. Whether they’re an Overseas Filipino Worker or Filipino-American, they see the P.I. (as they call the Philippines), as a place where they can spend and enjoy the rest of their retired lives, early or long overdue.
Last Thursday, June 11, 2009, I had the opportunity to speak with the Chairman of the Philippine Retirement Authority, PDGen Edgar B. Aglipay. We discussed the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa or SRRV. This special non-immigrant visa is issued not only to foreigners but also former Filipino citizens who are at least 35 years old. The SRRV allows them to multiple-entry privileges with the option to reside permanently in the Philippines. It also allows the spouse and children (unmarried and under 21) to join the retiree. The visa for the principal applicant (foreigner or former Filipino) and the dependents remain valid as long as the applicant remains in good standing with the Program requirements.
Of course, to avail of the SRRV, there are age and deposit requirements. If the principal applicant is the beneficiary of a pension and he/she is 50 years old and above, a time deposit of US $10, 000 plus a monthly pension of US$800 is required for a single applicant and US$1,000 for couple. If the principal applicant is not receiving any pension, then a time deposit of US $50,000 is required for applicants aged 35 to 49 years old. However, only a US $20,000 time deposit is required for applicants aged 50 years old and above. For former Filipinos, who are at least 35 years old, they are required only US $1,500 regardless of the number of dependents. This amount is the same for Ambassadors of foreign countries who served and retired in the Philippines, current and former staff members of international organizations including ADB and who are at least 50 years old.
It is worth noting that it only takes one month from the date of issuance for the applicant to be able to touch the deposit and turn it into an investment. So you’re only separated from your money for a short period of time. Such investments include a purchasing a condo unit(s), leasing a residential property, and even golf shares.
When an SRRV visa is issued to the applicant, the benefits include the following: (1) Option to retire, study, and work in the Philippines permanently, (2) ability to exit and re-enter the Philippines multiple times, (3) exempt from income tax over your pension and annuities, (4) exempt from certain Bureau of immigration requirements such as acquiring exit and re-entry permits, annual alien registration, customs and duties tax from importation of household goods and personal effects (limited), travel tax, and I-Card.
But with these benefits accorded, there are responsibilities that follow. Among them – (1) the yearly renewal of the PRA ID Card, (2) payment of annual visitorial fee, (3) notification for change of contact information, (4) cancellation of the SRRV status.
You can catch my interview with Chairman Aglipay on Crossing Borders aired in the Philippines on ANC and globally on TFC this week. For more information and the SRRV, visit the Philippine Retirement Authority’s website at www.pra.gov.ph and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s website at www.immigration.gov.ph.
__________________________
Atty. Michael Templo is an attorney admitted to practice law in New York State and Federal Courts and is a partner at Templo & Templo with offices in New York, USA and Makati City, Philippines. Atty. Templo specializes in US Immigration matters. Atty. Mike Templo is also a host for the weekly show “Crossing Borders” which airs every Thursday at 10:30PM on ANC and 2:30PM on TFC. The discussion above is not intended as legal advice, and cannot be relied upon for any purpose without the services of a qualified professional. For your comments and questions, Atty. Templo can be reached at info@templolaw.com or log on to www.templolaw.com.
SOURCE: ABS-CBN NEWS Online, retiring-philippines
Arum on Floyd’s demand: Keep dreaming
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/12/2009 6:14 PM
The Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. match up will never happen unless “Pretty Boy Floyd” gives up his pay demands, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
“If Mayweather persists with this position, a fight will never happen,” Arum said on a report by Setanta Sports News.
The former top pound-for-pound fighter earlier said that he will not accept a 50-50 share of revenue for a match with Pacquiao.
Pacquiao already had a similar share during his fight with Ricky Hatton. His camp insists that it will not happen again.
“Mayweather is taking the position that unless he gets more money, there will never be a fight – that’s absurd,” Arum said. “Manny is the most sought-after boxer on the planet.”
Pacquiao, the reigning pound-for-pound king, also beat Mayweather’s erstwhile foes Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya. Unlike Mayweather, the Filipino boxer defeated the two boxers in sensational fashion.
Last May, Pacquiao toppled Hatton with a devastating left hook to the jaw in the second round. Several months earlier, he battered De la Hoya to a technical knockout defeat within eight rounds.
This is in contrast with Mayweather’s performance against the two fighters. It took Mayweather 10 rounds to knock out Hatton in July 2007. In his fight against De la Hoya several months earlier, he was only able to eke out a split decision.
For Arum, a fight between Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is more doable in the near future.
Cotto, another Top Rank fighter, will be facing Joshua Clottey in New York on June 13.
Arum believes a Pacquiao-Cotto match would have as much appeal as a Mayweather fight.
“If Cotto beats Clottey that’s just as big a fight,” Arum said.
as of 06/12/2009 6:33 PM
RP middle class shrinking even before crisis
By Karen Flores, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/13/2009 11:09 AM
Many Filipino middle-class families were already lost to the low-income groups years before the global economic crisis started.
Data from the government’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) showed that middle-class families only accounted for 19.1 percent of all the families in the country in 2006–lower than 22.7 percent in 2000 and 23 percent in 1997.
“The Pinoy middle class remains vulnerable and has continued to shrink. And this is prior to the global crisis,” National Statistical Coordination Board Secretary General Dr. Romulo Virola said in his column early this week, referring to the FIES, a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office once every three years.
Half of Filipino families belonged to the low-income, non-poor segment in 2006 (54 percent), while a quarter of households (26.9 percent) were considered as poor.
The elite segment, meanwhile, was only composed of 0.1 percent of the country’s population.
The Philippines had fairly decent economic figures in 2006, led by a gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.4 percent, an average unemployment rate of 7.9 percent, $3.2 billion in average monthly export earnings, and $4.29 billion in average import earnings.
Still, even with these numbers, the country’s middle-income group continued to collapse throughout the years.
This is expected to worsen come 2009 as the government conducts its next FIES, especially with the economy showing a dismal 0.4-percent GDP growth for the first three months.
Other key indicators such as remittances, exports, imports, and foreign direct investments (FDI) have also reflected how the global slowdown battered the economy this year.
Exports, for instance, which account for 40 percent of the local economy and a major employer, have been plunging at a range of 30 to 40 percent for the past seven months. Imports have also posted double-digit declines for the past six months, while FDIs dropped more than 80 percent in the first quarter.
Middle class lifestyle
So who belongs to the Filipino middle class?
Citing data from the 2006 FIES, Virola said the Filipino middle class family as an annual income ranging from P246,109 to P2,000,072. He said, however, that this range has been raised throughout the years to match the country’s worsening economic conditions.
“In 2009, you would need to earn close to half a million pesos to be in the middle class,” he said.
According to Virola, there were 12 significant predictors of middle-income households in 2006, citing the FIES. For one, the head of the family usually has a college degree, and works either as an official of government, a corporate executive, a manager, or a supervisor.
Some indicators of middle class families were similar to standards set in 2000 and 2003, which include the ownership of an oven, an air-conditioning unit, and a vehicle, as well as the presence of a non-relative member and an employed house helper, among many others.
A number of factors were also taken into consideration when classifying middle-class households, such as the high usage of mobile phones, the increased ownership of DVD players, and the reduced popularity of radio sets.
The top four spending priorities among the middle class and the general population are the same in 2003 and 2006, which include food, house rentals, transportation and communication, and utilities such as electricity, water, and fuel.
For the least priorities in expenditures, the middle class and the general population also shared four things in common, which include non-durable furnishings such as utensils and household linens, alcoholic beverages, house repair and maintenance, and recreation.
Filipino-Chinese traders back Charter change
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:43:00 06/11/2009
MANILA, Philippines—While she has come under fire from business groups over Charter change, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has apparently found an ally in the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII).
Speaking at the joint celebration of the country’s independence and the 8th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day, federation president Dr. Alfonso Uy Wednesday declared that the Chinese-Filipino community was backing Charter change.
“The Chinese-Filipino community supports the move to amend the Constitution to enhance economic development and prosperity of the country,” Uy said in his welcome address at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
Ms Arroyo spoke at the same event at around noon, a few hours before protesters converged on Ayala Avenue in Makati City to protest the House’s hasty approval of Resolution No. 1109.
Ms Arroyo has consistently backed constitutional amendments, particularly those lifting protectionist economic provisions, but has distanced herself from the House approval of the resolution.
The Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines and Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines had expressed disgust at the passage of the resolution.
They dared Ms Arroyo to declare that the May 2010 elections would push through lest she would be accused of double talk.
In his address, Uy said the federation would take part in the government’s three-day job fair scheduled to open tomorrow as part of the government celebration of Independence Day.
He said the federation was also launching its “Buy Pinoy, Buy Local” movement at Club Filipino in San Juan.
“Through ‘Buy Pinoy, Buy Local’ we seek to promote our own Filipino products and services; save and create jobs; protect our workers and consumer welfare; encourage more local and foreign investments; combat smuggling and promote our local industries,” he said.
‘Shameless abuse of power’: Cory issues strongest message vs Con-ass
By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:37:00 06/11/2009
MANILA, Philippines—It was the strongest message former President Corazon Aquino has so far issued, and it was roundly applauded in the largest rally against moves to revise the Constitution in three years.
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 (“Subalit narito muli tayo, sa gitna ng walang-hiyang pang-aabuso ng mga makapangyarihang nagnanais na sirain ang mga pinakayakap sa ating mga batas.”)
“Over the years, I have learned to endure pain and sadness,” said the cancer-stricken People Power icon in a statement read by her grandson Kiko Dee at the rally attended by thousands in Makati City Wednesday.
“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.”
Estimates of the crowd that gathered in the intersection of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue ranged from 5,200 by police to 13,000 by organizers of the multisectoral rally against an attempt by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies to convene a constituent assembly (Con-ass) and amend the Constitution. The Philippine Daily Inquirer put the crowd at 10,000.
Speaking in Filipino, Aquino said that when the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was driven from power in 1986, “didn’t we vow that we will never again allow to throw away our freedom?”
Aquino said this was not the leadership that Filipinos deserve or the society that should be handed down to the next generation. She called on Filipinos to demonstrate their protest against moves to amend the Constitution.
Stealing presidency for 3rd time
A message from former President Joseph Estrada, read by his son, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, said: “If we allow her minions to maneuver (Con-ass), it is like allowing her to steal the presidency for the third time.”
Estrada was referring to his ouster in 2001 and the 2004 presidential election allegedly stolen by Ms Arroyo.
Opening salvo
Thousands bearing placards saying “No to Cha-cha” marched on the Makati business center in what organizers described as just the “opening salvo” of bigger and louder protests across the country against Charter change.
The demonstrators—an assembly of political figures, church leaders and leftist groups—were one in dismissing Malacañang’s position that the President had nothing to do with House Resolution No. 1109 that seeks to amend the Constitution without the Senate.
“All my life I haven’t cursed anyone, but now I call on the spirits of the babaylans, prophets, and heroes (to) curse this evil in government,” Sr. Mary Mananzan, of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, told the crowd. “We don’t want Gloria in whatever title she may hold.”
Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Ms Arroyo could run for Congress next year so long as she would keep her hands off the Constitution.
“She has no mandate to fiddle with the Constitution,” he said, adding that it was “time to pack her bags.”
“It is very clear that the people don’t want Con-ass. This is not the priority,” Roxas said.
Fair warning
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said it was “impossible” that Malacañang’s allies in the House of Representatives cooked up HR 1109 without Ms Arroyo’s blessings.
“Majority in the House is on her side, if not in her pocket,” he said. “They’re only as good as the benefits they get.”
Gabriela party-list Rep Liza Maza said the rally should serve as a fair warning to Ms Arroyo “not to anger the people even more.”
“This is the start of the backlash from the people,” said Akbayan party-list Rep Risa Hontiveros.
Different displays of discontent
The show of dismay over HR 1109 came in different forms during the rally.
Protesters prepared what they called a “Gloria punching bag” to illustrate their anger over the Con-ass resolution.
The ’90s band Datu’s Tribe played a song that urged the crowd to “condemn pigs,” ostensibly referring to congressmen who voted for HR 1109.
The protesters presented on a giant screen a video mosaic of congressmen who voted for HR 1109. In the piece titled “Mga Palaka ni Gloria (Gloria’s Toadies),” the congressmen’s photos later morphed into a huge portrait of the President.
After three hours, the crowd dispersed peacefully, ending the biggest rally against Charter change since more than 15,000 massed at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand in December 2006.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo vowed, “We will stall them until we paralyze Con-ass.”
Sen. Loren Legarda said HR 1109 was “clearly a violation of the Constitution” because it eased the Senate out of the equation.
Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., hitherto a rabid proponent of Charter change, said the resolution was meant to extend Ms Arroyo’s stay in power so she could be either president or prime minister “for life.”
“She’s flaunting her defiance of public opinion,” he said.
Exit options
Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio said speculation that Ms Arroyo was running for a congressional seat in her Lubao hometown could be one of her “exit options,” explaining that it indicated she was aiming to become a prime minister in a parliamentary system.
He said that the President was aware that she would be facing prosecution for corruption once her term was over.
Grace Poe, daughter of the late Fernando Poe Jr. who lost the 2004 presidential vote, appealed to lawmakers’ conscience: “Do you still have a God or you worship only money?”
“People are fed up,” said Ayala group official Vicky Garchitorena, who marched together with members of the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) group. “This is [our] way of expressing their outrage already at what Congress has been doing.”
Former Trade Secretary. Juan Santos said: “Why hasn’t she declared that she’s definitely stepping down? It has to be specific. Why doesn’t she say specifically that she’s against Cha-cha and House Resolution 1109?”
Soldiers are watching
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon warned: “The soldiers are watching what’s happening in the streets. If this reaches the level of EDSA II, you can’t be sure that they would not come out.”
He voiced fears that while two previous military-backed popular revolts in 1986 and 2001 succeeded and civilian power was restored, this time around that might not happen.
“They were hoping that there would be good governance but that did not happen so this time they might ask ‘Why should we give back the power? I am afraid of that,’” said Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In a statement read by his wife Aloi, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is incarcerated on rebellion charges, said that soldiers had “no obligation to support the administration in committing illegal acts.”
Lim said that the Arroyo administration “has lost all sense of shame.”
He urged the military: “You know what is right. You know what is just. I trust that you can see the truth should the time call for protecting the people.”
Magdalo members said 150 of them were in the rally, along with an unspecified number of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, but they did not say if there were active servicemen among them.
Jerome Layug, the 21-year-old brother of detained Magdalo rebel James Layug, came to the rally together with his mother.
“This administration wants to change the Constitution and stay in power. We cannot allow that,” Jerome Layug said. With reports from Philip C. Tubeza, Allison W. Lopez, Daxim L. Lucas, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
(Update) House OKs con-ass
By CARMELA FONBUENA, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 06/02/2009 10:20 PM
After months of jockeying, the House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved House Resolution 1109 which will convene Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass) and propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution, including changes that may prolong President Arroyo’s stay in power.
In a highly-charged viva voce vote, the Ayes were overwhelmingly louder than the Nays.
Starting at 5 p.m., solons from the minority interpellated the principal supporters of the resolution. They attacked the proponents for railroading it, and accused President Arroyo of being behind the move to amend the charter and prolong her stay in power.
However, their arguments fell on deaf ears.
Prior to the plenary deliberations, House Speaker Prospero Nograles had a caucus with members of the majority. They agreed to approve HR 1109 first before taking up the Right of Reply bill and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program extension bill.
Interpellations were cut short when before 10 p.m., South Cotabato Rep. Didagen Dilangalen moved to end the deliberations since the same questions were being asked by the interpellators.
Out of the 11 scheduled interpellators, only five members were allowed to speak– Minority Leader San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, Deputy Minority Leader Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III.
Members of the minority questioned Dilangalen’s motion, but it won eventually. The motion to put HR 1109 to a vote was then met with more objections.
“We in the minority always know how to lose. Why do we do this? It is to speak for the record. To define what we stand for, always to fight for the day of deliverance. Mr. Speaker, that day will come,” Zamora said shortly before the voting.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano told ANC the stage is set to amend the charter to suit President Arroyo’s interests once the administration is convinced it has the three-fourths vote in the constituent assembly.
No direction
Despite the approval of HR 1109, it remains unclear how and when they plan to convene the constituent assembly. House Speaker Prospero Nograles told reporters after the majority caucus he will call a leadership meeting after the resolution is approved.
La Union Rep. Victor Ortega and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, who were among those who sponsored the bill, couldn’t give a straight answer when they were asked what would happen after the approval. They said it will be studied.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., also one of the sponsors of the bill, said the rules committee will decide how the constituent assembly will be convened.
Asked after the majority caucus if it’s possible that they will immediately convene the constituent assembly, Nograles said, “I don’t think we have time. I don’t think we will convene after approval. After we come back na siguro. Maybe after SONA. Maybe.”
President Arroyo is scheduled to deliver her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.
Takes two to Cha-cha
Several administration congressmen have expressed reservations about the main point of the resolution, which says joint voting is the proper way to approve charter amendments in the constituent assembly. As opposed to separate voting, joint voting allows the 270-member House of Representatives to effectively bypass the 23-member Senate.
“It takes two to dance the Cha-cha. I am going to make a disclaimer. I believe it (resolution) will have to be sent to the Senate,” said Garcia, a key administration ally.
Ortega, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, echoed Garcia in saying the House of Representatives cannot bypass the Senate.
Even the resolution’s principal mover, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte is convinced that not all administration allies are for HR 1109.
“The one who filed this is Speaker Nograles himself. I think there is a group in the majority that is undermining the resolution that they are sponsoring,” he said.
A Teacher partylist Rep. Ulpiano Sarmiento III, a member of the administration, was one of those who did not follow the instruction during the majority caucus to approve the resolution.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you. There is no assurance that the gentleman’s agreement as manifested in [HR] 1109 regarding the non-extension of the term of the president shall be recognized and honored once we are transformed into a constituent assembly. It does not deserve this haste,” he said before the resolution was put to a vote.
Pangasinan Rep. Jose De Venecia said the resolution says “nothing,” which makes it dangerous.
“What is the message of this resolution? Nothing. It is not saying that we seek parliamentary government. It is not saying that we seek a federal form of government. It does not say that we seek a French parliamentary system. It says nothing, Mr. Speaker,” De Venecia said.
“It merely tries to create a situation so that a member of the House, or lawyers, could go to the Supreme Court, which will then allow members of this House to revise the Constitution as long as a three-fourths vote is achieved. For this reason, I strongly object and I ask each and every member of this House if we are true to ourselves, to the people, and to the country to opposed this charade,” De Venecia said.
Joint or separate voting
HR 1109 reads: “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of Congress be convened for the purpose of proposing amendments to, or revision of the Constitution upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members and that upon its being convened shall adopt its rules of procedures that shall govern its proceeding.”
The 1987 Constitution reads: “Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by: (1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members; or (2) a constitutional convention.”
HR 1109 says the 1987 Constitution deleted the phrases “in joint session assembled” and “the Senate and the House of Representatives, voting separately,” which were present in the 1935 Constitution.
Therefore, the resolution says, “three-fourths of all members of Congress” means “3/4 of the Congressmen and Senators taken together in the calculation of 3/4 of the members of Congress, without distinction as to which institution of Congress they belong to.”
This effectively empowers the 270-member House of Representatives to bypass the 23-member Senate, which last year passed a resolution opposing the convening of a Constituent Assembly.
The senators prefer the Constitutional Convention mode to amending the charter.
Trust basis
HR 1109 provides limitations on what the constituent assembly can pass. It states that the term of office of the President and other elected officials cannot be extended, and that there will be elections in 2010.
But when asked if these provisions will be respected by the constituent assembly, Ortega said, “It’s a trust basis. I can assure you of my pledge. But I cannot speak for the others. You have to ask them.”
When asked if the 2010 elections could be postponed by the constituent assembly, Rep. Barzaga Jr. said, “Everything is possible. It depends upon the wisdom of the constituent assembly.”
Following the approval of HR 1109, militant group Bayan called for a nationwide protest on Wednesday afternoon. Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said they will be at the House of Representatives at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
“With the railroading of the Con-Ass resolution, we are calling on the people to express their utmost indignation through nationwide protest actions. More protesters will come as the Arroyo regime shameless pushed the self-serving Cha-cha,” he said.
SOURCE: ABS-CBN NEWS Online, June 2, 2009
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