BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat
Posted 8:35 p.m., Dec. 12, 2006

“They will ram it through at the first chance of doing so – in the middle of the night, while we are sleeping – if we don’t exercise vigilance.”

These were the words of Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Teddy Casiño as he spoke before a crowd of protesters estimated to have numbered at least 20,000 near the House of Representatives this afternoon. Casiño was referring to the Arroyo administration’s moves to change the Constitution, which the ralliers were protesting.

The administration bloc at the Lower House had passed at night last Dec. 8 House Resolution No. 1450 by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, convening Congress into a constituent assembly to propose amendments or revisions to the Constitution. HR 1450 had no counterpart resolution in the Senate.

In an earlier interview with Bulatlat, lawyer Neri Javier Colmenares, spokesman of the Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL), said that under the Constitution, the House of Representatives alone cannot convene a constituent assembly.

The plan to change the Constitution through a constituent assembly was shelved by the administration bloc in last Monday’s House session, following threats of massive protest actions by various groups.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives are now counting on the Senate to respond to their “challenge” over the weekend to pass a resolution calling for a constitutional convention. In a press conference last Saturday, administration representatives led by House speaker Jose de Venecia gave the Senate a 72-hour “ultimatum” to pass a resolution calling for a constitutional convention.

The Senate, however – with the exception of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago – has voiced opposition to Charter change.

“His call to the Senate to approve a resolution for constitutional convention seems not only faulty but also disastrous,” said former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., who is presently in Mindanao, in a statement read by his daughter Marie during the rally. “Now that the Senate could not heed the representative’s challenge, is he going to recharge the con-ass train alone again?”

Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights), meanwhile issued a statement also condemning Charter change, as well as the Arroyo regime for human rights violations. “We are strongly opposed to the treacherous bid for a Charter change that will seek to prolong the rule of the murderous Arroyo regime whose death squads has once again attacked civilians in two consecutive days,” said Karapatan secretary-general Marie Hilao-Enriquez in the statement.

The human rights group said it received reports on the assassination yesterday of labor leader Jesus “Butch” Servida, in Cavite and Crisanto Frivaldo in Bicol. This morning at 9:55 AM, human rights lawyer Gil Gojol and driver Danny France were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Gubat, Sorsogon. Karapatan stated that that as of today, the number of victims of extrajudicial killings since 2001 has reached 801, while victims of forced disappearance now number 208 for the same period.

The rally was jointly staged by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance), the Gloria Stepdown Movement (GSM), the Union of the Masses for Justice and Democracy (UMDJ), the Kilusan para sa Makatarungang Lipunan at Gobyerno (KMLG or Movement for a Just Society and Government), Laban ng Masa (Struggle of the Masses), and the Black & White Movement.

These groups are set to participate in what is expected to be a bigger anti-Charter change rally at Rizal Park on Sunday, to be led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The Sunday rally is expected to be joined by the El Shaddai and Bangon Pilipinas (Arise Philippines) Movement.

“It is important that we keep watch up to Dec. 17 and while Congress is still in session,” Casiño said. Bulatlat

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