University Of The Philippines University Student Council Statement: Oppose Gma's Conass Charade

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – DILIMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL Oppose GM A’s Con-Ass Charade The true nature of HR 1109 In the dead of the night, while the rest of the nation was fast asleep, the House of the Representatives voted to pass House Resolution No. 1109 (HR 1109) last June 2, 2009. This measure mandated Congress to convene itself into a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the constitution using a joint voting mechanism for the House and Senate. In other words, HR 1109 brazenly bypasses the Senate by stating that any constitutional amendment only needs the concurrence of three-fourths of both Houses voting jointly, instead of the required three-fourths majority vote each of the House and Senate. This self-serving voting mechanism effectively renders the Senate nugatory, as the 270 members of the Lower House easily can overcome any objections by a mere 24 members of the Upper House. The questionable voting mechanism provided for in the HR 1109 makes it but inevitable that any doubts hounding the resolution shall reach the Supreme Court (SC). But it is farcical that the House majority themselves are the ones pushing for the SC to decide with finality if both chambers of the House need to vote jointly or separately. Railroading The means itself by how HR 1109 is passed are rift with irregularities. First, the original author of the resolution, Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, has withdrawn his support for Con-Ass, believing that there is simply no time left for Charter Change (Cha-Cha) with only ten months remaining before the 2010 Elections. Next, two days before the House breaks from its regular session, it rams the passage of the resolution by peremptorily ending the interpellation and suppressing debate. A media black-out ensued as no live coverage of the debates was allowed. Neither were the sponsors of the resolution able to prove that there is any public clamor or support for the ConAss, because they themselves have admitted that they have not done any sectoral consultation or even public hearings among their constituencies. In contrast, the latest studies by both Pulse Asia and IBON Foundation show that an overwhelming majority of Filipinos are against Charter Change. Anomalous It does not take a large stretch of imagination to believe that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the mastermind behind all of this. It was Presidential son Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo who had aggressively solicited the signatures of the Congressmen to support the resolution. It has been reported by the media that certain Congressmen were promised to be awarded an increase in pork barrel for supporting HR 1109, and that GMA’s orders were supposedly given during the merger of political parties Lakas-CMD and Kampi by GMA at the Manila Hotel. LakasKampi presently has a total of 145 out of the 270 House Representatives, enough to railroad the Con-Ass Resolution. In the same manner, it is apparent why the cronies of GMA are doggedly pushing for HR 1109. There is the danger that PGMA and her lackeys will stay in power beyond 2010, through revisions or amendments to the Constitution. Added to this, changing the charter at such an inopportune time such as now may jeopardize the May 2010 Elections. Not the solution The UP Diliman University Student Council joins the rest of the country in questioning the sponsors – Why such an urgency for Con-Ass? In the midst of a global financial crisis wherein there is a massive layoff of thousands of Filipino workers both in the Philippines and abroad; when genuine agrarian reform is still out of the reach of our Filipino farmers; and the costs of oil, basic goods and services, and education are continually rising—we see clearly where our Congressmen have chosen to turn a blind eye: that there is absolutely no need for Con-Ass. HR 1109 shall neither solve nor alleviate the chronic illnesses of our country—conversely it shall only serve to further compound these problems and obstruct our legitimate call for genuine societal change. Instead of moves to change our Constitution, what we need right now are concrete measures to uplift our economy, such as genuine agrarian reform

for our farmers, national industrialization for our workers and industries, and accessible education for the Filipino youth, among others. Oppose Cha-Cha, Junk Con-Ass! In the coming days, it is imperative for the Filipino youth to remain vigilant against further moves by GMA and her cronies to further entrench themselves in power through yet another stab at Charter Change. As representatives of the students, we, the UPD USC, express our most vehement opposition to GMA’s Cha-Cha. We condemn HR 1109 as one more unconstitutional, self-serving, and accelerated power-play that has no place in the realities of the ordinary Filipino man. We call on the students to unite together with the religious, academic, peasant, worker and other marginalized sectors in opposing Cha-Cha and Con-Ass. In the final analysis, though the House majority may push that the HR 1109 controversy reach the Supreme Court, the supreme fountainhead that will determine the fate of our country is still the sovereign will of the Filipino people.

Oppo se G lori a’ s CH ACHA ! Junk Con -A ss! OUST GM A!