MikeLigalig.com

By Lilybeth Ison
PNA

Despite their opposing views and affiliations, lawmakers from different political parties on Thursday have agreed and filed a resolution at the House of Representatives which seeks to stop any move to pursue Charter Change (Cha-cha) before 2010.

House Resolution no. 888 was backed by 23 signatories, including majority lawmakers. It was principally authored by six out of the seven endorsers of the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which was dismissed on Wednesday by the committee on justice for lack of substance.

Authors of HR 888 are Bayan Muna Reps. Teodoro Casino and Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, former Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. (Lakas-CMD); Liberal Party (LP) members Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya; and Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of presidential aspirant and ousted Senate president Manuel Villar Jr.

In filing the resolution, the solons said any move to amend the Constitution before 2010 would certainly benefit those currently in power.

HR 888 states that some proposed amendments pending before Congress are patently self serving and abhorred by the people.

The proposals to postpone the May 2010 elections to May 2011 -- extend the term of incumbent officials, lift term limits of public officials, change the presidential and unitary form of government to parliamentary and federal form of government before 2010 elections -- will surely play into the hands of those plotting to perpetuate President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in power, it added.

La Union Rep. Victor Francisco Ortega, chair of the committee on Constitutional amendments, however, maintained that term extension is not part of the Charter Change agenda being pushed at the Lower House.

"I can assure the public that term extension is not part of our agenda," he said.

Ortega also clarified that the controversial HR 550, which seeks to extend the term for one more year (from three to four years) of the office of local elected officials, except barangay officials and congressmen, has already been withdrawn by the proponent as early as three months ago after it has been filed.

He noted that HR 550 was filed on April 30 of this year by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas but this was withdrawn last August 12.

"A clerical error in the committee's matrix caused confusion and prevented us from identifying immediately that Batangas Rep. Mandanas already withdrew HR 550 last August 12. The committee is not taking that up anymore," the solon said.

Ortega explained that the Batangas solon had filed three resolutions on Charter change -- HR 548 which seeks to "promote efficiency in governance by uniting the executive and legislative functions; HR 549 which seeks to strengthen local autonomy by empowering Congress to create more autonomous regions; and HR 550 which changes the term of office of local elective officials, except barangay officials and congressmen, from three to four years and to synchronize local and national elections from 2010 to 2011.

He said an error in the panel's matrix mistakenly marked HRs 548 and 549 as having been withdrawn when Mandanas actually withdrew HRs 548 and 550.

Ortega said the term extension is "merely talk, rumors or chismis."

"The committee has not received any resolution directly or indirectly (proposing) any extension of term. None of the about 30 resolutions pending in my committee speak of any extension whatsoever," he said.

"I am clarifying these matter if only to allay fears that the moves of the committee on Constitutional Amendments is solely, if not ultimately, for the purpose of extending the term of the President, and even that of the members of Congress. This is not so," Ortega stressed.

The veteran lawmaker also said that presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo is also not working for term extensions.

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