Makati rally a virtual political sortie for 2010 ‘presidentiables’

MANILA, Philippines - The massive anti-Charter change rally in Makati City on Friday appeared to be an early campaign sortie for "presidentiables" in the upcoming 2010 elections, a radio report said.

In a report, dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo said potential presidential aspirants Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero were present at the rally.

Former President Joseph Estrada - who had earlier said he might make another presidential run in 2010 - was also briefly present in the rally but had to cut his participation to attend to his ailing mother.

Organizers earlier said they will allow key political figures - presidentiables included - to have a three-minute speaking time during the rally program which is expected to extend up to 9 p.m.

In the rally, supporters of Binay - who, in November announced that he will be running for president in 2010 - were stationed close to the stage, some on them were even carrying banners saying, "Binay for President!"

Meanwhile, Legarda's supporters, mostly women, were identified with their uniform white shirts bearing Legarda's name.

Escudero, who is regarded as another possible presidential candidate, was not able to escape fanfare as several women fans flocked to him and planted kisses on his cheek and took pictures with him.

"Nakakatuwang makita na magkakalaban man sila sa darating na eleksyon, sama- sama sila para tutulan ang Cha-cha... iba-iba man ang kanilang partido, ang kanilang paniniwala... nagkakaisa sila laban sa Cha-cha," the report quoted Escudero as saying.

Escudero also expressed confidence that moves in the congress pushing for Charter change will not prosper without the Senate's nod.

"Liwanagin ng Kamara ang kanilang posisyon. Gusto ba talaga nilang balewalain ang Senado o hindi? Kaya ba nilang makapasa ng bill na hindi kasama ang Senado? Hindi nila kayang gawin yun (The Lower House should state their position. Do they really want to ignore the Senate or not? Do they think they could pass a bill without the Senate's approval? They can not do that)," Escudero said. gmanews.tv

Cha-cha untimely due to economic crisis, 2010 polls - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The House public hearing and consultation on the issue of amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution drew mixed reactions from various invited political experts, with one of them saying there is no “pressing need" for such change.

GMA News' Mariz Umali reported over QTV-11's Balitanghali that among the resource persons who spoke at the hearing of the House committee on constitutional amendments were lawyer Neri Colminares, Social Sciences professor Roland Simbulan, and political scientist Jose Abueva.

The House committee gathered the political experts to determine if the 1987 Constitution needs to be changed, and how change should be done.

In his speech, Colminares said the government should first closely study and weigh in the benefits of changing the Charter, adding that such a revision would constitute a serious amount of financial expense for the government.

He said that changing the Charter would entail the passing of a plebiscite, which in the first place would require the government to spend a big amount.

The resource speaker added there is no “pressing need" as of this time to change the Constitution, describing it as “untimely." He said the government could not afford to spend some more on such a move, given the current global financial crisis plaguing national economies and the expenses that would be incurred in the upcoming May 2010 elections.

Simbulan seconded Colminares’ suggestion on deferring moves for a Charter change, saying it would only elicit “malicious" remarks from critics if the government would choose to carry out the change at this point when the administration is hounded by a number of controversies.

Simbulan also stressed that as opposed to previous suggestions, if ever Charter change is approved through Constitutional Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives should vote separately because Congress is bilateral in nature.

For his part, Abueva said there are several provisions in the current Constitution that need to be amended, and that change should be done through a Constitutional Convention.

He said the government should also decide who would compose the Constitutional Convention around the same time as the May 2010 national elections.

Earlier, committee chairman and La Union Rep. Victor Ortega had denied that his committee had previously received any resolution for a Charter change.

But in Tuesday’s public consultation, Colminares belied the La Union congressman’s claim and said House Resolution 550 authored by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas had been filed.

In his resolution, Mandanas was asking for a term of extension for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo until June 30, 2011 and a postponement of the May 2010 polls.

While subsequently admitting the receipt of such a resolution, Ortega clarified that he and the other committee members have yet to discuss the proposed measure.

As of this posting, the public consultation continues and is expected to go on for the rest of the day. gmanews.tv

Eleksyon sa 2010 tuloy – Nograles

MANILA – Tiniyak ni Speaker Prospero C. Nograles nitong Sabado na tuloy ang halalan sa 2010 ngunit wala umano siyang balak na pigilan ang komite sa Kamara de Representantes na talakayin ang resolusyon tungkol sa pag-amyenda sa Saligang Batas.

“There will be an election in 2010. There is no proposal to extend the term of anyone," deklara ni Nograles sa isang pahayag.

Sa kabila nito, sinabi ng lider ng Kamara na hindi niya pipigian ang House committee on constitutional amendments na talakayin ang mga resolusyon tungkol sa Charter change sa kabila ng mga pagtutol ng iba’t-ibang sektor.

“We have a Committee on Constitutional Amendments not only in the House but also the Senate precisely to handle proposals pertaining to proposed amendments on the Constitution. As long as it does not interfere with our normal legislative work and will not disrupt our 4 pm sessions, (La Union) Congressman (Victor) Ortega's committee can go ahead in considering proposals on Charter Change," Nograles said.

Kabilang ang inihaing resolusyon ni Nograles sa nakatakdang talakayin ng komite ni Ortega na naglalayong baguhin ang probisyon ng Saligang Batas upang luwagan ang batas para sa mga dayuhang namumuhunan sa bansa partikular sa pag-aari ng mga lupa.

“My resolution is purely focused on the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. We don't want to be left behind as many investors affected by the economic crisis in the US and other countries in Europe are scrambling to look for safe haven and are shifting investments on gold, oil and minerals. Mindanao has all the potentials in these three areas of investments," ayon kay Nograles.

Binigyan-diin niya na hindi kasama sa kanyang resolusyon ang anumang plano na palawigin ang termino ng mga halal na opisyal sa pamahalaang kabilang na si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“There is no single proposal now pending in the Ortega committee that calls for the term extension of any incumbent official," pagtiyak niya.

Idinagdag ni Nograles na kung magkaroon man ng paggalaw sa probisyong politikal sa Konstitusyon ay sesentro lamang ito sa mungkahing federal system of government na nakasaad sa resolusyon ni Sen Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

“ It is important to note that the federalism initiative came from the Senate through Senator Pimentel, a respected Mindanaoan and a prominent member of the political opposition. We may just pick from where Sen. Pimentel started," ayon sa kongresista. gmanews.tv

Melo to quit if no polls in 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Jose Melo declared Thursday he will resign from the Commission on Elections if the Constitution is amended to postpone the 2010 presidential elections and the situation turns into something resembling martial law.

Melo, in an interview with the media, said there would be no need for the commission if moves to amend the Constitution and stop 2010 elections are successful.

Talk that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not step down after her term expires in 2010 resurfaced after Press Secretary Jesus Dureza prayed for Arroyo to “have forbearance, good health, and tolerance to lead this nation until 2010, and who knows, perhaps even beyond..." at the start of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Critics of the Arroyo administration fear that Charter change would give her and her allies the opportunity to amend provisions so she can stay on in power as prime minister in a new parliamentary set-up after her term ends.

Term extension is a “non-issue,” the Comelec chairman said. “For us, [the President's term] ends in 2010. That is according to our current system.”

When pressed by the media to comment on the possibility that there will be no elections in 2010, Melo said, "Then we will resign. We won't have anything to do because that would be like martial law.”

Despite talk that administration allies were resurrecting Charter change movement, Melo and other Comelec officials said they were confident that the 2010 presidential elections, their main preoccupation these days, will push through.

The Comelec is in the middle of organizing the 2010 presidential and national elections, where they expect around 40 million voters to elect a new batch of leaders using computerized voting machines.

The Comelec is currently studying options for automated voting systems. The poll body said automating elections would mean less cheating and faster results.

Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said advocates of Charter change would not have enough time for the bill to become a law. They would also have to gather public support for it, he said.

“We are busy preparing for the 2010 elections. Nothing can stop that,” Tagle said.

“I don't know if that can still change the Charter. They only have less than two years to do it,” he added.

If Charter change advocates call for a plebiscite, Tagle said the Comelec has no funds for a national-level vote.

“There is no budget for it. Congress should appropriate,” he explained.

He noted that the commission already has issued a resolution this week suspending all action on recall election petitions due to lack of funds.

The Comelec said the budget for recall elections currently stands at P5 million. inquirer.net