Despite denials by officials and allies of the Arroyo administration, it is becoming obvious that they will move heaven and earth to push through with amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It is no secret in the House of Representatives that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s son, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, has been making the rounds of congressmen’s offices or meeting with both allies and non-allies to get the 197 signatures they said were needed to convene Congress as a constituent assembly (con-ass).
Senate President Manny Villar revealed that the charter change (cha-cha) proponents in the House were just 20 signatures short of what they insist was the magic number for a con-ass, which just like its namesake obviously stinks.
The Arroyo allies were hoping that with 197 signatures (or three-fourths of the total number of congressmen and senators), they can bypass the Senate and move to convene the whole Congress into a con-ass, which, after all, would be a more appropriate name for them.
Speaker Prospero Nograles, who for some time was telling people cha-cha is now impossible before the 2010 elections, suddenly had a change of heart after learning that Mikey had offered to give back the speakership to former Speaker Jose de Venecia in exchange for his support of the cha-cha through con-ass move.
De Venecia, of course, declined the offer lest he completely loses the respect of the people. But Nograles took the cue and became more cooperative, especially after Gloria Arroyo herself appeased him with a public praising during a speech shortly after De Venecia exposed Mikey’s failed attempt at betrayal.
De Venecia said it was obvious that his former protégé, Gloria Arroyo, was behind the cha-cha moves despite her denials because Mikey is in the forefront of the cha-cha effort in the House. Mikey, of course, denied he offered De Venecia the speakership in exchange for his support. But we all know that lying is a common trait among the Arroyos, so what else should we expect?
After that, Nograles announced he would file the controversial resolution that seeks to amend the constitution through a constituent assembly once the session resumes on April 13. Apparently, Nograles was threatened with ouster if he fails to push cha-cha at the House. Nograles’ Resolution 737 seeks to amend the constitution’s economic provisions to allow foreign corporations to acquire public and private lands in the Philippines.
Another resolution, authored by Rep. Luis Villafuerte, was basically the same as that of Nograles’ and also calls for cha-cha through con-ass. But the contents of Villafuerte’s resolution, which Nograles said would be filed once the session resumes, remains a secret until now.
Political observers think that the Nograles resolution was just a decoy to get Congress to consider Villafuerte’s resolution, which, many believe, aims to extend the term of Arroyo or institute a shift to parliamentary system and give Arroyo another crack at the country’s helm as prime minister.
The funny thing about all this is that amid all the pronouncements by Arroyo’s allies in the House, Malacanang officials continue to deny the Palace is bent on pushing cha-cha. Presidential political adviser Gabby Claudio said the administration could not have been that hell-bent to push cha-cha because Arroyo had just approved an P11.3-billion budget for poll automation and Malacanang is “all psyched-up for the May elections that would put in power a new leader after nine years.”
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also said the enactment of the budget for poll automation should squelch speculations that Malacanang was still dead-set on cha-cha.
On the same day, however, Arroyo praised Nograles for his “firm leadership” in the wake of reports that Nograles would file his con-ass resolution.
Make no mistake about it, this administration will move heaven and earth to push through cha-cha unless it is certain its chosen candidate would win in May 2010. Mikey wouldn’t risk being exposed as untrustworthy and approach De Venecia if the stake were not that high.
Expect Arroyo’s allies to intensify its cha-cha efforts when Congress resumes its session on April 13. Time is running out on them with the May 2010 elections nearing. They don’t expect Senate to cooperate even with Arroyo ally Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, but they won’t stop until they get the 197 signatures. They will then convene the constituent assembly by themselves, without the consent of the Senate, and then force the issue before the Supreme Court, which is full of Arroyo appointees.
The music will grow louder and faster, and the dancers will step up their cha-cha steps. The Arroyo administration has the numbers, both in the House and in the Supreme Court. It is up to the people, who have repeatedly expressed its disapproval of cha-cha in various surveys, to stop them.