Speaker: No constituent assembly at SONA

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles downplayed yesterday allegations of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. that administration lawmakers would use the joint session of Congress when President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week to convene a constituent assembly or con-ass and introduce amendments to the Constitution.

“There is no factual and/or legal basis for this unnecessary warning from the former Speaker,” Nograles said.

Malacañang branded yesterday as “outrageous” De Venecia’s allegations, while senators renewed their threat to walk out of the joint session if it is turned into a con-ass.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said De Venecia’s allegations would be an “injustice” to fellow lawmakers and would also demean the significance of the SONA.

“The former Speaker should not unduly alarm and agitate the public about outrageous scenarios for convening a constituent assembly which we do not believe is within the contemplation of the present House leadership and certainly not in the Palace agenda,” Claudio said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dismissed the assertions made by De Venecia, saying “there’s nothing of that sort.”

“Maybe because he was a former speaker so he knows the procedures and maybe he heard about the statements of Speaker Nograles (on constituent assembly) and put them together to make his own statements,” Ermita said.

De Venecia alleged administration congressmen would pull a fast one by taking advantage of the joint session of Congress on July 27.

He claimed the Senate might be in for a surprise once the joint session lengthens.

De Venecia urged Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to immediately declare the session over after the SONA.

This would prevent the joint session from being converted into a constituent assembly by administration lawmakers, De Venecia said.

“Because if (the senators) let it linger, say by 10 to 30 minutes, somebody would stand up and say, ‘We move to convert this (joint session) into a constituent assembly’,” he said.

Then administration congressmen would take the opportunity to discuss the proposed amendments to the Constitution in the presence of the senators, De Venecia said.

The former Speaker played out the scenario of administration congressmen forcing the issue into a vote during the joint session and taking advantage of their numerical superiority.

“Somebody would say ‘I object’ and so the Speaker would say let’s put it to a vote then if that is defeated, the constituent assembly begins,” De Venecia said.

De Venecia also alleged the renewed effort to revive Charter change initiatives would be calculated to stir unrest and create a scenario of instability to justify the declaration of emergency rule and set the stage for martial law.

He said one of the scenarios is a chaotic election or failure of election, which could be the final trigger for President Arroyo’s declaration of martial law.

Liability

Administration congressmen, however, slammed De Venecia for making the allegations.

“There is no basis for that (convene as con-ass). We will just convene in joint session purposely to hear the SONA of President Arroyo. There is no more purpose of that joint session other than that,” Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said, adding the joint session would be adjourned immediately after the SONA.

“I don’t know the reason of the former Speaker for saying that. But such statement is only sowing confusion,” he lamented.

Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella also slammed De Venecia, saying his “allegations are far from reality.”

“It has no basis and it will not happen,” Puentevella said.

Puentevella added the former Speaker is turning out to be a liability in the House.

“JDV is now a problem of the House for consistently saying baseless charges which are meant only to confuse the public,” he said.

Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, for his part, said De Venecia was only trying to seek publicity.

“These are mere allegations purposely to steer controversy in the hopes that they will be noticed by the public,” he said.

Teodoro also said De Venecia’s allegations have no basis.

“We should censor what we hear and believe in. There is no concrete basis or proof that such an action will be permitted in the halls of Congress come the SONA,” Teodoro added.

“For one, the SONA will be witnessed by millions of Filipinos, so who would want to push through with the con-ass for all the country to see?” Teodoro said it would not be a wise move for any lawmaker to make.

Senate walk out

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said any move to adopt Charter change during the SONA would spell trouble for the administration.

Zubiri also debunked De Venecia’s warning of con-ass during the SONA.

“I think we are more intelligent than that. If that happens, the senators would stage a walk out. If that happens, (it) will be the most controversial political incident in the history of our country. Many of the senators, including the Senate President, will walk out,” Zubiri said.

He revealed Enrile had plans to immediately close the joint session after the SONA to prevent any motion to introduce Charter change initiatives.

“The consensus of all senators is, we should not amend our Constitution as 2010 approaches. We can look into it after the 2010 elections because there will be a new mandate for the president and the administration. As of now… Charter change is not our priority,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri stressed con-ass needs an enabling law coming from both chambers of Congress.

“For as long as there is no commitment from the Senate, there is very nil chance that con-ass will happen,” he said.

Zubiri said he had a discussion with Nograles on the need to pursue the economic agenda without necessarily amending the Constitution.

Zubiri noted the proposal of Nograles to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, which he said also needs the concurrence of the Senate.

Zubiri also gave President Arroyo unsolicited advise to leave a legacy aimed at strengthening democracy without hanging on to power.

Malacañang said Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA would be her last.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA would not only enumerate her accomplishments, but also list her priorities in her remaining months in office.

The SONA would also mention programs that should be sustained by her successor “so that the delivery of benefits and services for our countrymen, especially the poor, would not be interrupted,” Golez said. - With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez - By Delon Porcalla (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)