News update GMA, son Dato file Cha-cha resolution

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed a resolution asking Congress to call a constitutional convention as she took her seat as representative of Pampanga’s second district at the House of Representatives yesterday.

The resolution was co-authored by her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the Congress of the Philippines with a vote of two-thirds of all its members to call for a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to or revision of the 1987 Constitution,” read proposed House Resolution No. 8.

Details relating to the specific apportionment and election of delegates as well as the date for holding the constitutional convention will require an implementing law, according to the resolution.

A constitutional convention entails the election of delegates who will draft changes in the Constitution.

Arroyo filed eight other bills yesterday:

• House Bill 172, an act establishing a framework of governance and development for the Philippine education system;

• HB 173, an act amending Republic Act 6734, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Act;

• HB 174, an act banning the catching, sale, purchase, possession, transportation and exportation of all sharks and rays in the country and for other purposes;

• HB 176, an act amending sections 91 and 97 of RA 8550 otherwise known as the Fisheries Code;

• HB 175, an act establishing and maintaining lactation stations in workplaces and for other purposes.

• A bill seeking to penalize persons driving under the influence of alcohol;

• A bill seeking to define cybercrime, providing for the prevention suppression and imposition of penalties; and

• A bill seeking to create the Department of Housing Planning and Urban Development.

Palace: It’s not a threat

Malacañang does not consider the resolution as a threat to President Aquino.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it was “something we expect,” but whether it would be tackled and decided would all be “about numbers.”

“We are aware her heart has always been to amend the Constitution,” he said. “It’s always been clear to us.”

Lacierda said if Malacañang would be able to convince the Senate and the House that it was not time to amend the Constitution, the resolution would be “dead in the water.”

“Let the legislative process take its course, let the legislative department handle that,” he said.

Lacierda said Arroyo’s move was not surprising because she had made it known that she wanted to amend the Constitution through various means.

It was possible Mr. Aquino would talk to his allies regarding Arroyo’s resolution or they would be the ones to inform him, he added.

Mr. Aquino had asked his allies at the House to support Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to become speaker, Lacierda said.

4 senators slam GMA’s move

Four senators criticized yesterday Arroyo’s action to have the Constitution amended.

However, Senators Francis Escudero, Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano and Franklin Drilon said Arroyo’s move was “not so surprising” because it has been her plan all along.

Escudero said Arroyo’s move could have also been triggered by the strong pronouncement of President Aquino that all corruption issues will be addressed squarely by his administration.

“It would seem and indicate that GMA is flexing her muscles and making her presence felt a day after leaving office... and I thought she would just quietly serve as a congressman,” he said.

“I think this is her reaction to the speech of P-Noy yesterday as if to say that she is no pushover and will fight it out.”

Pangilinan doubted whether Arroyo can succeed in her desire to change the Constitution.

“If as President she couldn’t get Charter change through despite having the entire machinery of the office at her disposal, I doubt very much if she can do it as a congresswoman,” he said.

Cayetano said, “I think it smacks of bad taste that Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has chosen to file a resolution calling for Charter change right on her very first day in office as a lawmaker.”

“When she was still in Malacañang, Mrs. Arroyo had always been viewed as supporting Charter change in order to perpetuate herself in power.

“Her first resolution appears to validate her real motive for seeking a House seat. But I am hopeful that the majority of House members will resist this proposal.

“I hope they have read the writing on the wall with the election of President Benigno Aquino III, and that message is ‘enough is enough’.”

Drilon said he was not surprised at all over Arroyo’s actions which manifested a hangover from power.

“Hindi na po ako nagugulat sa ganoong klaseng gawain ng ating congresswoman Arroyo,” he said. “Hanggang sa ngayon hindi niya matanggap na wala na siya sa Malacañang at gagawin niya ang lahat para i-destabilize ang pamahalaan ni Pangulong Noynoy.”

Pichay: Belmonte, Arroyo have good working relationship

Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who looms as the next Speaker, and Arroyo would have a good working relationship in the 15th Congress, according to her political adviser.

Prospero Pichay said Belmonte and Arroyo remain friends and respect each other.

“They have a good relationship and Manong Sonny is a very decent guy,” he said.

Pichay said he worked with Belmonte in the 11th Congress.

“His (Belmonte) approach is fatherly and he’s not dictatorial,” he said.

“He gets the consensus of the minority during that time (when he was Speaker). Even if your problems are personal, you can approach him.”

Pichay said he felt privileged when Belmonte called him up several weeks ago seeking his help in his bid to be speaker.

“I told him not to hesitate to confer with the (former) president,” he said.

“They had worked well together in the same party anyway.”

He told the Belmonte that he was already committed to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Arroyo, he added.

Pichay said Belmonte is not new to the speakership fight and had been a three-term lawmaker. “These things are not alien to him so I’m very sure it will be a good working Congress,” he said.

Pichay said Arroyo, being a former senator, vice-president, and president, would also be able to contribute a lot in the legislature.

“Her experience in the executive branch would really be a big advantage,” he said.

“She would play a big role and share her experience. Her leadership would be felt.”

Pichay said with Lakas-Kampi-CMD becoming a minority party, its members would not be given committee chairmanships. However, the minority should be represented in constitutional bodies like the Commission on Appointments, he added.

Pichay expects the House to be productive and harmonious under Belmonte’s leadership.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD is fielding Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman to challenge Belmonte.

Lagman, a Lakas-Kampi-CMD stalwart, is expected to be the leader of the minority bloc in the House. -Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica, Christina Mendez - By Paolo Romero