It looks like that Jose de Venecia does not have the 195 congressmen or three-fourths of Congress to railroad the convening of the Constituent Assembly.
They now introduced a new resolution (HR1450)that does not mention Constituent Assembly but merely to convene to accept proposals. Rep. Edcel Lagman said they would only need only a simple majority votes,which is only 117.
Rep. Roilo Golez (anti Cha-Cha) and Teddy Locsin (pro Cha-Cha) dared to push for voting if it’s three-fourths of Congress.
The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar , of Cebu City tried to avoid the issue. Now, he just said, he is taking the position of Lagman that they need only a simple majority.
Talagang bastusan na. Malaya’s update on JDV’s Con-Ass Express.
Gloria Arroyo and Jose de Venecia and their minions now have realized that fooling the people is not as simple as they thought it would be. Here’s ABS-CBN’s update of the administration congressmen’s to railroad the covening of the Constituent Asssembly without the Senate to shift from the Presidential to Parliamentary system of government.
Escudero: House majority in legal fix
House Minority Leader Francis Escudero on Wednesday said administration congressmen railroading Charter change got themselves “entangled in a legal quagmire” that has confused them even more.
“After the long lull, you can see members of the majority in a huddle. They could not agree on how to go about it. At the end of the day, they had to abandon Congressman Jaraula’s proposition.”
Escudero said the lawmakers conceded to just file a new resolution, House Resolution 1450, authored by Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and co-authored by Speaker Jose de Venecia, pushing to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly.
He said the members of the majority wanted to take up Nograles’resolution, which was scheduled to be deliberated on during the 29th session of the lower chamber.
“But because they merely suspended [the session], we are still in session 28,” Escudero said.
He said that Tuesday’s marathon voting session to amend a portion of the House rules ended in disorder and confusion.
“It was too much already for most members of the majority that they themselves could not stomach it. It was no longer palatable that’s why they decided to postpone because it was too much already, even for them,” Escudero said.
The lawmaker added that if the session at 4 p.m. Wednesday ends the same “desperate” way, administration allies will have no choice but to face election in May. “And the last thing that they want is for this issue to linger in the minds of their constituents.”
Escudero said that in order to convene a constituent assembly by voting without the Senate, the House of Representatives will need about 192 votes.
“They pulled all the stops to ensure that members of congress sympathetic to their cause would attend the session yesterday (Tuesday), but yet they were only able to come up with 161. They lack 30. Thirty, for me, is a far cry,” he said.
Escudero noted that the highest House attendance was only at 187 during President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address in July.
Voting 161 to 25 on Tuesday, the President’s allies in the House voted to fast-track the process of Charter change by amending Section 105 of Rule 15 of the House rules. They successfully deleted a sentence in the House rule that indicates separate voting of the lower and upper chambers of Congress on Charter amendments.
The deleted sentence reads: “The adoption of resolutions proposing amendments to or revision of the Constitution shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills.”
The Senate said it is gearing up to question the moves of the House before the Supreme Court.
Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye: Cha-cha
Transcript of Sen. Franklin M. Drilon’s interview with ANC on Charter Change, December 6, 2006
SFMD: The Constitution provides for a bicameral legislature and would require that resolutions such as amending the Constitution must pass through the two chambers. Last year, the House passed a resolution wherein the House convened itself into a Constituent Assembly. This resolution was referred to the Senate for our concurrence precisely because our Constitution requires our concurrence. That Constitution provision is reflected in the Rules of the House and when they amended the Rules of the House, in effect, they disregard the Constitution.
Q: Do you think these congressmen violated the Constitution?
SFMD: This is in violation of the Constitution because more than a rule of the House, is the rule of the Constitution. That is reflected in the rule of the House.
Q: What can be done about congressmen who commit unconstitutional acts while in office?
SFMD: The action can be corrected by the Supreme Court in the appropriate proceedings after the House of Representatives have gone to the Comelec to set the date for a plebiscite. I expect the Comelec to do the cha-cha. They will set the date of the plebiscite. And at that point, the moment the House of Representatives would bring this resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution to Comelec, we can go to the Supreme Court and ask the Supreme Court, as the final arbiter of disputes, to uphold the Constitution as they have done in the past.
Q: You are saying it is inevitable, the resolution calling for Con-Ass and the resolution calling for amendments to the Constitution will both pass?
SFMD: I have no doubt about that. It is tyranny of numbers.
Q: You don’t think anything can be done to these congressmen to penalize them of their acts?
SFMD: I don’t think so, considering that this is a political act on their part. It will be the voters in the proper forum, in the election, where they will be held to account for their actions.
Q: All elective officials having been sworn to uphold the Constitution during the course of their duty, they have to be answerable as well, perhaps to the institutions that hold them to that post?
SFMD: The institution is Congress. So how do you expect, as a reality, Congress as an institution to look into this transgression of the Constitution where it is controlled by the majority. There is no sense in invoking that power to discipline its members when it is controlled by the majority who run roughshod over the rights of the minority, and run roughshod over the Constitution.
Q: The intent of the Congress is to invite the Senate to join them in convening the Con-Ass. What do you think is the possibility of that happening?
SFMD: The invitation has no legal effect. It is our concurrence with the resolution constituting us into a Constituent Assembly, which would be necessary. A simple invitation will not comply with the Constitutional provision that the Senate must concur in the resolution constituting Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
Q: A resolution such as that, will it already pass through the Senate?
SFMD: No, the resolution will follow the procedure outlined in the Constitution for passage of laws and will go though the Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
Q: Congress is confident they will get the three-fourths vote to pass the amendment that they want…
SFMD: That is correct but before they do that, they must first pass the resolution constituting the two chambers into a Constituent Assembly. That is the first resolution that they will pass. And that resolution clearly requires the concurrence of the Senate voting separately. The House recognized that a year ago when they sent to us the resolution requesting our concurrence to constitute Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
Q: At what point can the Senate intervene in this process?
SFMD: The Senate will not intervene in the process of the House. Notwithstanding the total lack of courtesy and total disregard of the Constitution, we will not intervene in the House. We will intervene by bringing the matter to the Supreme Court at the appropriate time. And the appropriate time comes when they pass both resolutions and ask the Comelec to set the date for the plebiscite.
Q: Submitting the resolution to the Comelec will be your signal to go to the SC?
SFMD: That is the proper time because it is at that time when there is a justiceable case, meaning there is now a cause to go to the SC because there is a real conflict. As of this time, the amendment to the rules of the House is internal to them. The passage of the resolution constituting ourselves into a Con-ass, they can claim is a matter internal to them. But the moment they go to the Comelec, to seek a setting of the plebiscite, then we can go to the Supreme Court. At that point, they will be asking the Comelec to spend taxpayers’ money for a patently illegal exercise of the plebiscite, and therefore, the Supreme Court can issue a restraining order. (
Two Party list(Buhay) congressmen have abandoned GMA and JDV’s Cha-Cha train: Rene Velarde and Señeres.
Velarde is the son of El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde who has taken a stand against JDV’s Cha-Cha train.
They are withdrawing their signatures on the resolution pssed last night changing Sec. 105 changing the rules of the House on amending provisions of the Constitution.
Rep. Velarde would not act without the blessing of his father Bro. Mike and the El Shaddai group. And lately, whatever El Shaddai decides, Manalo’s INC seems to follow. The two groups appear to be in a very good working relationship for quite sometime now. Since Rep. Marcoleta is identified with INC, let’s check if he also signed or withdrew his signature like Velarde. If this trends keep going, this Cha-Cha will not succeed. INC has earlier made her position clear that she didn’t want Cha-Cha and would like the election to continue next year. Such position taken by INC and even El Shaddai is understandable because it’s during election that their much needed help is being eagerly sought after by politicians. Without election, their role and influence could be diminished. But everything is possible…these groups could have already discussed and negotiated with GMA and Malacanang. They do have their own interest to protect anyway.
Here’s the latest about El Shaddai…you bet these GMA’s pigs are now wooing Bro. Mike to reconsider. Who knows what the trade off would be if El Shaddai finally decides to support Cha-Cha:
Palace to woo El Shaddai head Velarde on Charter change
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
Last updated 06:38pm (Mla time) 12/06/2006
ACKNOWLEDGING the support of El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde for amending the Constitution through a constituent assembly is “very, very important,” Malacañang said it would try to woo the charismatic religious leader over to its point of view.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the support of the Catholic charismatic group, which claims five million members here and abroad, would boost the chances of the administration’s plans to change the form of government to a parliamentary-unicameral system, among other Constitutional changes, if a plebiscite is held.
“The support of Brother Mike [Velarde] to the constituent assembly is very, very important. You yourselves say he has a lot of followers and therefore, if we get his support, then our chances of getting a positive response during the plebiscite will be much, much better,” Ermita told reporters.
“So it is necessary that someone explains [Charter change] to Brother Mike Velarde,” he added.
Ermita said he was “certain” there are Palace officials and administration allies in the House talking to Velarde to explain the reasons for convening the constituent assembly.
Session has been suspended (for the nth time) because of an incident in the gallery. A number of anti-chacha activists like Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, former Transportation Secretary Josie Lichauco , singer Leah Navarro, Gloria Alcuaz, and others are in the gallery giving moral support to the opposition congressmen.
Emotions ran high as the railroading became more blatant. They cheered opposition congressmen and jeered administration representatives.
Rep. Gerry Salipudin made the mistake of approaching the group of Lichauco and told them to “just smile and jsut retain their beauty.”
The women activists resented the “macho” comments.
Rep. Douglas Cagas also reacted to the jeering.
Someone shouted they have no right to silence them because are living off their taxes.
Statement of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Philippines
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
I think it would be much cheaper if we just ask these congressmen who change the rule as they go, hijack the Congress and suppress opposing views, just to name their price and pay them off, and tell them to diappear forever, like what that Joc-Joc Bolante planning to do. Much, much cheaper for the country’s treasury in the long run, than if we let them get what they want and have them stay in power and just the same, they’re going to bleed the country dry and to listen and look at them and their antics is also not good for our collective health, personal and mental.
Off topic but good information:
KONTRA-GAHUM: Academics Against Political Killings and Subverso were launched by CONTEND-UP and Ibon Foundation on Nov. 23 with a keynote/poem by National Artist Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera.
Please visit http://www.arkibongbayan.org, or:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2006-11Nov23-UPbooklons/upbooklons.htm
Arkibong Bayan Web Team
Gloria Alcuaz said, “garapalan na. Ginagago na ang mga tao.”
from tribune:
Senator-allies abandon GMA, junk House Con-ass
By Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo
12/07/2006
Senators, even under intense pressure yesterday from President Arroyo to support moves by the House of Representatives to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly (Con-ass), proved resolute in their position, putting their foot down on the idea of congressmen shunning the upper chamber and going it alone.
Except for Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the Palace was “abandoned” by its allies, including known staunch supporters of Mrs. Arroyo – Senators Manuel “Lito” Lapid and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. – as they joined the cause of overwhelming majority in the upper chamber to “register its disapproval” in any attempt by the lower house to “unilaterally propose amendments to or revision of the Constitution without the approval by three-fourths of the Senate, voting separately,” which they denounced as “unconstitutional.”
Hours before the consensus was finally reached during a closed-door caucus held in the middle of
their plenary session, Santiago revealed to reporters in an interview that Mrs. Arroyo said she and possibly three others that included Lapid, Revilla and Sen. Ralph Recto were told to expect “invitations” to join the lower house in rallying for the convening of the congressional Con-ass.
This proved to be a dud for Malacanang as Lapid was prevailed upon by his own conviction to stand against the idea even amid machinations by the Executive, its congressional allies and strong personal support to Mrs. Arroyo.
Standing pat in the position taken when the Senate first made known its “statement” on Charter change, specifically against Con-ass without the upper chamber voting separately, Lapid joined his colleagues on their latest significant undertaking, admitting that this is contrary to what is expected of him by “Madame” President.
“This is the right of the Senate. Why should the Senate be excluded. The majority of the Senate has to have the vote,” Lapid told reporters in an interview after the session was suspended around 7:30 p.m., or after the closed-door meeting where initially 18 of them then present affixed their signatures on the resolution drafted and passed around by Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan.
Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Jamby Madrigal, both currently abroad and Pia Cayetano who was no longer present during the caucus, vowed to give their “electronic signatures”, possibly through fax transmission while Revilla, as of press time, made a commitment to Pangilinan that he will sign later in the evening.
“So it’s only Santiago who is yet to sign the resolution although we will be asking her if she is willing to sign the resolution before we file it,” Pangilinan told the Tribune.
Lapid swore he will not be attending any House assembly, saying, “what will I be doing there?”
Santiago, as of press time, was in Malacañang to meet with Mrs. Arroyo, the event she mistakenly announced as having taken place Tuesday night.
Senate sources said Santiago could not be contacted by them to relay the matter of their resolution but Pangilinan said they will exhaust all means to get through to her last night.
Prompted by the events that transpired in the lower house that which the Senate expressed strong objections on the manner in which congressmen wanted to carry out Con-ass, senators moved to come up with a new resolution to reiterate their position.
“As a response to recent developments in the House of Representatives, the Senate deems it necessary to reiterate its position that any proposal to amend or revise the Constitution should be done by Congress through bicameral voting.
“Resolved by the Senate, to reiterate its position that any attempt by the House of Representatives to unilaterally propose amendments to or revision of, the Constitution without the approval by three-fourths vote of the Senate voting separately, is unconstitutional,” they said in the yet to be numbered resolution.
The Senate will resume its public hearing on Con-ass where a number of legal luminaries already stated a position similar to theirs, that the Senate and the lower house must vote separately because of the bicameral nature of Congress, on Monday, to be carried out by the committee on constitutional amendments revision of codes and law chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said.
Santiago, based on her statements given to reporters prior to Villar’s directive to hold an all-senators caucus, practically said that Mrs. Arroyo had told them to rally behind the move taken in the lower house.
She identified three of her male colleagues although she said there maybe two or three others who may eventually join them.
Santiago confessed that she and her fellow administration allies are bothered by the legal issue on whether the lower house and the Senate should vote jointly or separately on charter amendments.
Santiago was among 22 senators, the 23rd was abroad then, who signed a resolution last March later and adopted by the Senate that voting on the matter of convening the constituent assembly and amending the constitution was separate.
But after joining the president on a trip to Saudi Arabia some months back, Santiago has taken the position that Con-ass can proceed “as long as there are senators.”
Sem. Panfilo Lacson said the attempt by Malacañang’s allies in the Lower House to short-circuit Charter change through a constituent assembly is nothing short of “constitutional rape.”
Recto called the House majority’s railroading of the Con-ass as a “sneak attack on democracy.
That day is the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.”
Senator Cayetano called on the leadership of the House to give up on their plan to force through amendments, calling the move an illegal and immoral scheme and a useless exercise that is bound to blow up in their faces soon.
“In their shameless bid to perpetuate themselves in power, the House leadership is pushing the entire nation on the brink of a constitutional crisis and political turmoil,” Cayetano said. “Who are the real ‘destabilizers’ now?”
But Speaker Jose de Venecia and Majority Leader Prospero Nograles yesterday said they would invite senators anyway to join the House members in an assembly of all the members of Congress to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution after amending its rules in an attempt to bypass the senators in deciding on whether they would agree to turn Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
De Venecia, in a statement, said the Senate would not be bypassed despite glaring proof during yesterday’s “midnight session” to do so.
“The Senate will not be bypassed. We will invite the senators to join us and exercise their sacrosanct duty in the discussion on the proposed Charter amendments,” de Venecia said.
Nograles, for his part, in an attempt to downplay the administration’s reprehensible attempt to ram through the proposed constituent assembly in the face of numerous objections from the minority bloc, said the news reports were inaccurate.
“We never had the intention to bypass our Senate counterparts on the matter of proposing amendments to the Charter as insisted by detractors of reforms,” the two House leaders said.
De Venecia and his allies said:“In fact, we have been saying all along that the senators are important…we need the senators in this sacred endeavor,” Nograles added.
he he heh! hugas kamay sina nognograles at devildeamnesia.
Statement of Archbishop Oscar Cruz:
Here’s a message from Juan Manggagawa:
Press Statement
December 6, 2006
Rep. Renato Magtubo
In the parliament of the streets, JdV and Gloria do not have a puppet majority
As rescue workers were digging in the darkness to save our fellow Filipinos in Bicol, the majority solons in the House were maneuvering in madness to save themselves from the trouble of running in the May elections.
Whereas super typhoon Reming was understandably a natural disaster, the JdV pangasinan express is undoubtedly a man-made calamity.
While the rescue and relief efforts in Bicol was a national emergency that required forging the unity of the people, Malacanang and the House majority was dividing the nation with the railroading of the cha-cha through con-ass.
No better contrasts can there be in the crisis and decay of the rotten political system in the country.
Still, it is one thing to amend the House rules and another to revise the constitution. Amending the rules in order to force through con-ass is easy enough since JdV and Gloria has a pliant majority in Batasan. But revising the constitution will be derailed by a solid majority of the people that is against such a self-serving scheme.
The workers will link up arms with the people against Gloria’s cha-cha and JdV’s con-ass. While we do not mind revising this bourgeois constitution, the present cha-cha through con-ass will not only extend the illegitimate rule of Gloria but will wipe out the national patrimony, labor rights and civil liberties codified in the charter.
In the parliament of the streets, the JdV express can be derailed and Gloria’s cha-cha can be foiled. We call on the people to stand up and be counted in the protests. ###
tunay, buong taon pinasan at habang panahong papasanin ng mga kawawa nating mga kababayan ang kalbaryong ipinapataw pilit ng mga senturyon ni gloria gahaman!
diyos naming mahabagin, huwag mo pong tulutang tuluyang mamayani ang huwad na nagpapanggap na iyong hinirang. ilang ulit na niyang niyurakan ang dangal naming tanging yaman at pilit isinisiksik ang sarili niya sa kapangyarihan upang maligtas sa naghihintay na kaparusahan sa lahat ng kasalanang dapat niyang pagbayaran.
Text statement of Rep. Roilo Golez:
I would really like to see how far Glueria and JDV could go in railroading the Constitution. Their failure would mean the beginning of their end.
Patapos na ‘yang si Tiyanak kaya mas maagang matapos sa Lowest House, mas madaling bumagsak ang Lamang-Lupang Pidal woman! Ngayon pa lang ay kulang na sila sa bilang kaya biglang kambio si JDV at Nograles. Meron pang Senado na pati ang walang kwentang Lapid at Revilla ay baligtad na rin. Tapos ay meron pang Supreme Court. Sus, as I said, they are just stretching Glueria’s days.
I remember when JDV said, the Tongress chacha train will be faster that the fastest trains in Europe and Japan. Keep on dreaming JDV dahil katapusan mo na at ni Glueria! Where’s FVR in all this? Takot na rin sa tao?
Ellen,
Senator Drilon is perhaps being over optimistic if we go by the observation of Archbishop Cruz:
“Three: There is the up and coming recomposition of the Supreme Court whose Chief Justice is up for appointment by the national leadership itself that cannot but protect and promote its own interest in this signal prerogative.”
Unbelievable! The Philippine way of democratic exercise in politics is just incredible.
Democracy is a very fragile concept of liberty and sovereign will of the people.
To claim that a nation is truly democratic, it must at least observe and practice the concept of:
1) a neutral military
2) a truly independent judiciary, i.e., courts of law, Supreme Court, a judiciary almost beyond reproach in that sense.
But the concept of neutrality and independence in both those institutions in the Philippines is highly questionable.
Because our military is not neutral and because our judiciary cannot be called truly independent even at the Supreme Court level (in spite of their thrashing Legion’s PI), more so because of the fear that after Panganiban, the exective powers will infiltrate the highest court institution which should be the ultimate bastion of justice in the country, there is serious doubt in my mind that the people in the Philippines KNOW or REALIZE full well the real concept, the essence, the meaning of democracy.
Democracy dictates that sovereign will lies in the people.
But I don’t see that here. What I see is 161 members of the Lower House and Gloria abusing their political prerogatives, breaching the Constitution, bamboosling their way through an unspoken but de-facto dictatorship.
Our people must learn and understand that DEMOCRACY is not simply a numbers’ game. It is more subtle than that. It is also about values, about the concept of knowing what is right from wrong, it is about reason and applying reason to the law so that the law may be well served…it is all about thwarting injustice and misrule.
Numbers help in the exercise of democratic prerogatives but when numbers are misused and abused, the exercise becomes futile. Misuse and abuse of numbers in a democratic exercise leads to tyrany, and in the case of the Philippines, a de facto dictatorship.
Ellen,
The current scenario in the Philippines reminds me of the history: the same scene in the assembly in the new French Republic circa 1790 otherwise known officially in history as THE REIGN OF TERROR.
Robespierre used, misused, abused the NUMBERS in the newly installed French Assembly (if you like equivalent to Gloria and the Philippine Lower House tandem) to terrorize the new and still fragile French republic and then crushing those who dared oppose him with the Guillotine!
This may sound off topic, but when will Filipinos see something like this happen in the Philippines:
From Japan Times
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006
Ex-labor minister loses appeal to avoid 3 1/2 years in prison
Kyodo News
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by former Labor Minister Toshio Yamaguchi over a ruling sentencing him to 3 1/2 years in prison for breach of trust, embezzlement, fraud and perjury, sources said Tuesday.
The decision by the top court’s No. 1 petty bench finalizes a 2003 ruling that imposed the sentence on Yamaguchi, 66, in connection with a loan scandal involving Tokyo Kyowa Credit Association and Anzen Credit Bank, both of which no longer exist.
Yamaguchi, labor minister from 1984 to 1985 in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, had pleaded not guilty, saying he was not involved in the illegal loans.
The Tokyo District Court in 2000 sentenced him to four years, but the Tokyo High Court in 2003 reduced it to 3 1/2 years.
According to the high court ruling, Yamaguchi persuaded the heads of Tokyo Kyowa and Anzen in 1994 to arrange some 2.7 billion yen in illegal loans for companies run by Yamaguchi and his relatives, causing financial damage of a comparable amount to the credit unions.
The court also convicted Yamaguchi of giving false testimony to a House of Representatives Budget Committee hearing on the scandal.
It convicted him of an inappropriate offer of collateral for loans extended from Tokyo Kyowa in 1992 and 1993 and embezzlement related to the loans.
Yamaguchi won 10 straight terms in the Diet from a district in Saitama Prefecture. He was first elected to the Lower House in 1967.
Anna,
There is no democracy in the Philippines, only “Demonyo kasi”!
Anna de Brux,
“Our people must learn and understand that DEMOCRACY is not simply a numbers’ game…It is also about values, about the concept of knowing what is right from wrong, it is about reason and applying reason to the law so that the law may be well served…it is all about thwarting injustice and misrule…Numbers help in the exercise of democratic prerogatives but when numbers are misused and abused, the exercise becomes futile. Misuse and abuse of numbers in a democratic exercise leads to tyrany, and in the case of the Philippines, a de facto dictatorship.”
BEAUTIFULLY SAID!
God help us, Anna de Brux, God bless the Philippines!
anna, i am not sure of this but did’nt robespierre also ended up in the guillotine?
“A concept of knowing what is right from wrong”. A fundamental value that Glueria’s minions in the Lowest House do not possess! Sabi mo nga Yuko, mga “Demonyo kasi”!
Norpil,
Yes he did! Most of the leaders involved in the Reign of Terror ended up under the Guillotine too!
Thank you Chabeli.
our country and people had suffer enough..can we all unite now and oust GMA,she is the cause of all this nigthmare we are suffering now.withou GMA,there will no political killings,and everybody in the goverment appointed by GMA who are doing all the evils to suppress the people will will be held accountable,the like of jdv,nograles,pichay,jaraula etc,doj gonzales n gonzales,ermita and the corrupt generals in afp and pnp who are all parts of the killing machine of GMA.and also the comelec headed by abalos who is so corrupt and poker face.without GMA we will not be us divided as we now..she is evil and she must be ousted and she must pay for all the crimes she committed to the filipino people!!
ocavayle,
I read in Carlos Conde’s blog about the hair-raising initiative in Davao otherwise known as the Death Squad killing of children!
I was utterly shocked by what I read. I still cannot believe that in a country that calls itself predominantly Christian, a Death Squad is in operation killing steet children!
BREAKING NEWS…New Chief Justice is Reynato Puno.
Babuyan na talaga. Am deeply worried about it. Tomorrow, Filipinos may wake up with a country thoroughly devastated not by Remings and Milenyos but by power hungry, corrupt and immoral leaders that we have now.
What those crocs, pigs, and vultures are doing in Congress now is a testament to the kind of rotten leaders the Philippines has. Tsk tsk tsk. Hopeless!
What democracy are we talking about? Demons and crazy leaders, yes. And the rotten system that they make is better known as democrazy.
That’s what we have in the Philippines.
anna,
i noticed it too, even the Supreme Court is voting in Bloc, like political parties. At least in some controvertial issues here concerning like moral and religion, our MPs are given liberty to vote accordng to conscience instead of Party Line. Actually, they parliament is going to revive the same-sex debate (remember there is still no law regarding same-sex, only the traditional law was declared by courts unconstitutional) and all parties declare to let all MPs vote according to conscience. I observe the Philippines SC justices vote on issue not on their ideology even, but to their side of politicians. And sometimes it takes only one truly independent member to tilt the balance. As for Military, we have a longer history than the Philippines as an Independent country (l39 Years)but not a single time that our Military lost its neutrality. It is always subservient to the civilian authority and to the Crown. And l39 years ago, we also was evolving.
Bloc
Mas maganda ang tawag mo, Hawaiianguy! Hindi democracy, Demon -crazy!!! Hahahahaha! 🙂 Tumbalelong ako!
BTW, I was planning to go to Hawaii for the confab, but my mother does not want me to go as she wants me to be with her all three I would be in the USA. I told her to come with me, but she said, she can no longer take a long trip. However, I would love to hear your report on this.
Vic,
Impartial and independent judiciary should be one of the rocks in a democracy but as you said, there is no impartiality even at the Supreme Court level.
What many Filipino so-called intellectuals and opinion writers fail to realize or refuse to accept is that because two important keys are absent to make democracy work in the Philippines, there is an existing practice of institutional tyranny by a group of people under the mantel of Gloria;
they fail to understand or to accept that the Philippines is in fact under a de-facto dictatorship.
Ystakei, there will be NO Toshio Yamaguchis in Philippine politics under Gloria.
As long as demons reign in RP, and whenever those democratic institutions are perverted, only Juan dela Cruz goes to prison. The last hope of decency is the SC. Once that institution is aligned to the demonic desires of Glue and her more satanic allies, the nation will be doomed to perdition.
Hawaiianguy,
You say that “Filipinos may wake up with a country thoroughly devastated not by Remings and Milenyos but by power hungry, corrupt and immoral leaders that we have now.”
If I may add, this is worse than any typhoon the country has ever witnessed! It would be a Signal No.5!
Delubyo na ‘yan, Chabeli!
These shameless “HORONABLE-CHEATERS” cannot accept defeat and have no respect with their own rules. Changing established parliamentary rules just to satisfy their collective greed of power is a hare-brained move. It would be dangerous to change horses in the middle of the race. Cheaters are thrown out and beaten by angry mob.
At exactly 5:35 AM DEC.7, the Phil. House of Representatives has passed the resolution calling for a Constituent Assembly starting on Dec. 12.
Omygoodnessme!
They are really determined to subvert democracy, aren’t they?
What happens when the principles of democracy, as embedded in the Constitution are subverted?
Ayaw paawat ng mga tongressmen, bayad na kasi!
Glueria and JDV are licking each others ASS!
*****
THE LONG VIEW
Nocturnal deliberations
By Manuel L. Quezon III
Inquirer
Last updated 00:09am (Mla time) 12/07/2006
Published on Page A13 of the December 7, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
NECESSITY is the mother of invention and never did this old chestnut prove truer than in the House of Representatives Tuesday night. Newsbreak Online reported that after encountering difficulties in mustering a quorum, the House leadership decided to show congressmen the hoochie coochie. Wrote Miriam Grace A. Go and Tita C. Valderama: “On Monday evening, word got around that Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo, son of the President, was inviting administration solons to go to the Palace’s legislative liaison office in the Batasan. His partymate … Luis Villafuerte told reporters that food was prepared for congressmen in that room. There was no food, but there were reportedly SAROs (special allotment release orders) and NCAs (notices of cash allocation) being distributed to congressmen. These are documents confirming the availability of their pork barrel funds. These were supposedly their reward for today’s vote.”
Now of course, as good citizens, you and I should be shocked that anyone would dare to report that bribery takes place in the House. Perish the thought! Our First Family teaches us that what we see isn’t necessarily what exists. When the President’s husband staggered out of St. Luke’s hospital, profusely mopping his brow, he gallantly told the media, “I feel like an athlete!” Now if this political babushka insists he’s Nadia Comaneci, who are we to argue?
Not Newsbreak, which dutifully reported, too, that “An administration congressman denies the reported flow of money.”
It’s the Bart Simpson defense: “Ididn’tdoitnobodysawmedoityoucan’tproveanything!” Except that the report went on to say: “The source says Malacañang indeed released some money to distribute to the congressmen, but De Venecia has been withholding it until after they’ve voted favorably on the move to amend House Rule 15.” The thrifty Speaker, it seems, is insistent that he gets the maximum bang for the buck.
Which means that if Tuesday saw a partial fulfillment of this mission—the rule’s amendment was accomplished by 9:30 p.m.—visions of sugarplums wouldn’t be dancing in many congressmen’s heads. Not yet. You see, it wasn’t supposed to end there. While Section 150 of Rule 15 was amended so that resolutions don’t have to go through the same wringer that bills do, the House was supposed to adopt a resolution by Wednesday morning. Two things got in the way. The first was Rep. Gerry Salapuddin’s clumsy—and in the end, self-defeating—handling of the session (which made Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s maladroit handling of the 2004 presidential canvass look brilliant in retrospect).
The second was Rep. Constantino Jaraula’s attempt to pull a switcheroo by trying to give a sponsorship speech for what turned out to be the wrong resolution. It was like watching a feebleminded soldier throw the firing pin instead of the grenade at the enemy. Jaraula detonated, splattering his colleagues with the ground round that was all that was left of the leadership’s plans. Speaker Jose de Venecia had to send everyone home so they could pick up the pieces. But now that they’ve put Jaraula together again, what’s next?
Making up your own mind is what’s next, even as the House majority tries to make up what passes for its collective mind. It’s too bad the nation was sleeping Tuesday night, because anyone who cared to watch got a useful glimpse of our future under a parliamentary government.
It took three tries to muster a quorum, that is, getting representatives to actually show up for work. Enticements became necessary to get that quorum: inviting everyone to a buffet which turned out not to involve food but promises of cash. Chances that an enthusiastic majority will end up shouting approval for a motion that means exactly the opposite of what was approved 100 percent — as demonstrated by Salapuddin stampeding the House into bellowing approval for the opposition’s proposal to postpone the effectivity of the majority-amended rule, until 15 days had passed and the amended rule could be published in the papers. The likelihood that a new parliament will overwhelmingly OK something it didn’t intend, and also dispense with every rule meant to prevent such foolishness, is also 100 percent. These are the blessings of a large majority operating in a single-chamber atmosphere: the happiness of lemmings diving off a cliff.
Another old chestnut is that haste makes waste, but the House thinks that’s OK, because your present-day congressman will be a new, improved member of parliament. Raul Gonzalez can be both minister of justice and MP for the district now underwhelmingly represented by his son; and really, why endure a Lito Lapid or Bong Revilla when the House majority can match them? And be more amusing, to boot: there was that Quezon City congresswoman who confused the Speaker with a TV set, calling him “JVC” (a Freudian slip, perhaps, considering the legislative liaison’s promissory note buffet) while bragging she gave the Catholic Church P4 million.
What the House is doing to its rules will never be tolerated in any self-respecting organization. But a self-respecting House is an oxymoron. I remember Palace pekingese Alex Magno asking, “As the world rushes aid to the victims of the Leyte landslide, why are the political players of Manila more engrossed with power grabs?” Magno should point to Carlos Imperial, Joey Salceda and Luis Villafuerte — and ask Edcel Lagman in particular, who loftily told TV host Ricky Carandang that a parliament would lead to greater accountability and responsibility — “Et tu, Brute?” For what are we seeing but a power grab? As Willy Prilles Jr. observed from Naga City, “If there is one Philippine institution today that Typhoon ‘Reming’ should have destroyed, it has to be the House of Representatives.”
Anna, it’s time the soldiers perform their constitutional duty to protect the people.
Our group is planning to make our move during the ASEAN summit. We enjoin other NGOs to link up and do the same. The time for dakdak is up. Time to move!
Tongue,
I agre but we have a problem, there’s only a handful of good officers and men in the AFP.
The Americans will not let it happen – for the AFP to meddle unless the population has decided to storm Congress and Malacanang.
First and most important thing to do in case our too few good officers and men decide to act and come to save our nation from this de-facto dictator group (Gloria and her cohorts in the Lower House) is to NEUTRALIZE Esperon and the commander of the Marines.
Second, make sure that sympathetic elements in the air force have aircraft.
Third, NEUTRALIZE the commander of PSG!
Tongue,
Make sure you have not only land but also sea assets!
Manong Joe,
Hindi uubra ang chacha nyo dahil yang mga tao mo sumasayaw ng the twist..
Pinaparating ko pa rin ang mensahe ko:
“The true enemies of a man are the men in his own house.”
Ayaw mong makinig,bahala ka sa gusto mo.Sila rin ang pipitik
sa tenga mong malaki.Sige magpatuloy ka..
Ag ka lay kaliwanan anggat kauyos la bilay.
I don’t care how they do it. The soldiers made their oath. The people demand that they do what they vowed to do.
IT IS TIME TO MOVE BEFORE WE ARE DOOMED!!!
PUPUSTA AKO MGA KABABAYAN
KAPAG PUMALAG ANG SAMBAYANAN
SA PANGGAGAHASANG GINAGAMPANAN
NG MGA PULITIKONG GAHAMAN
SA ATING SALIGANG BATAS NA SANA AY ATING SANGGALANG
ANG MGA ITO AY MAG-SOSORI LAMANG
AT AGAD NA MAKAKALIMUTAN NG TANGANG SAMBAYANAN
ANG GINAWA NILANG KASALANAN
AT TULOY-TULOY NA NAMAN ANG PAGPAPAKASASA
SA KABANG-YAMAN,
PARA BANG “WALA LANG” “DEDMA NA LANG”
SA GINAWA NILANG PANGGAGAHASA, SA INANG BAYAN!
SUSUHULAN LANG MGA BOTANTENG MANGMANG
AYOS-AYOS NA NAMAN.. SA IBANG PAGKAKATAON NA LANG
GAGAHASAIN KO ULI, TUTAL MGA PILIPINO AY TANGA NAMAN!
Toungue Twisted, why wait for the Asean venue? Monday is the day. Fiji had the coup while their parliament was in session. The soldiers stormed the parliament! GOT THE IDEA!
nang mauso ang cloning, lahat ng kopya ni lucifer ay itinambak niyang lahat sa pilipinas! karamihan sa kanila ay nasa congress, AFP, PNP, MMDA, DENR, DPWH, supreme court, ombudsman, comelec, customs, NBI, BID, BIR, DILG at iba pang mga sangay ng pamahalaang pinamumunuan ng hari at reyna ng impiyerno sa malakanyang!
The soldiers swore to protect the Constitution. Help us. We can’t go this alone.
Chabeli,
If you know one, just one good officer in the AFP, I’m sure you can start a dialogue with him/her and the process can start the ball rolling.
TongueT:
I know a lot of my Japanese friends are going to the Philippines for the ASEAN protests. You will be meeting them there. Unfortunately, duty calls for me to go instead to the USA for my mother wants to see me. She’s still strong and have a long way to go, but she misses me, because I am the only one of her children not living nearby. I’m actually planning to do a documentary on my mother as my initial project.
However, I may join the rallies in the USA that some of our links are thinking of holding there. At least, in the USA, as long as you behave, they grant you freedom to express yourself. I’m supposed to brief them on the PPT for the Philippines. They are actually actively promoting Nicole’s case versus the VFA.
God willing, ito na ang umpisa. Take heed of the signs of the times.
Dasal ng taimtim para magtagumpay. PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
I should add: JDV SIBAKIN! NOGRALES, LAGMAN, ET AL, SIPAIN!!!
BANSOT, PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Anna de Brux,
Took your advise and spent some time speaking to an officer. I thought of also sounding out some ideas to a retired one, because I believe in the wisdom of those who have “been there and done that”. What I gather is that there is ANGER amongst the junior officers which was a result from this “Gang Rape.”
Apparently, the musicians may start the concert…
Others are already planning for the rallies on Monday and Tuesday. The CBCP Bishops and El Shaddai, to be joined by the Protestant umbrella group, and though unconfirmed, Bro. Eddie’s JIL and hopefully, INC, too, are going to fill Luneta on Friday. There are enough organizers already. We just need to follow their lead.
Parasabayan, we need to sustain these efforts and make sure the people do not lose their focus at the first bursts of fire truck cannons. Planning many steps ahead is one way of keeping the enemy in a defensive position and preventing them from getting the upper hand. Simultaneous protest actions at all fronts will weaken their strategic control and will lead to their giving up some territory.
Ask Anna, she is the blitzkrieg expert and she will tell you how to capture the queen in one fell swoop.
Thanks Toungue Twisted. This will be relayed to as many Kababayans.
As I mentioned earlier and I still keep mentioning, if INC joins the rallies, it will be a sure downfall for Gloria. But will they? I doubt. During the Edsa Tres uprising, more than half of those in Edsa were INC members together with members of El Shaddai. They were about to march to Mendiola when GMA begged Manalo to stop. Manalo made one request; that is, to place Erap on house arrest. GMA agreed. As a reciprocal gesture, Manalo even supported some of GMA’s senatorial candidates who all won. After the election, GMA did not keep her promise and continue to detain Erap. Manalo got mad. He then refused to talk with GMA despite the latter’s effort. Many times GMA dropped by the INC Temple to see Manalo but he refused to see her. Manalo was all set to support Lacson last election until FPJ declared his candidacy. Manalo then was caught in between because he like both. Finally, Manalo gave ultimatum to the two to run as a team; but neither wanted to be vice. In disgust, Manalo switched to Gloria. Many would disagree; but the more knowledgeable ones knew that INC’s one million solid votes contributed to GMA’s victory. The first impeachment against Gloria would have succeeded had it not for Manalo’s influence over some Congressmen who either withdrew their signatures or failed to appear. That act by Manalo made GMA so happy that she burst into tears. INC and Manalo should be partly blamed for GMA’s rise to power. INC supported her as Senator, Vice President, then President. Therefore, I doubt if INC would join the rallies. But from past experiences, INC followed wherever El Shaddai go. They seem to have some kind of alliance lately.