In Night of ‘Rape’ and ‘Outrage,’ Arroyo Allies in Congress Take First Step to Cha-Cha

Opposition congressmen tried to block the approval of House Resolution 1109 that would create a Constituent Assembly, with some valiantly opposing the apparent railroading of the measure. But the sheer number of President Arroyo’s allies was overwhelming.

MANILA – In a night variously described as a “night of ignominy,” a “travesty,” a “charade,” – even a night of “rape” that is worse than the Hayden Kho sex video scandal – allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved a House resolution that would create a so-called constituent assembly to amend the Philippine Constitution.

Critics say House Resolution 1109 would pave the way not only for the amendment of the Constitution but for the possible extension as well of Arroyo’s stay in power — a term, which is supposed to end next year, that has been marred by so much political scandal, allegations of corruption, and massive violations of human rights.

The vote adopting HR 1109 came about half an hour before midnight of Tuesday. And a few minutes after the decision was made, calls for protests were already being made through text messages, Twitter and Facebook, which had been abuzz with tweets and updates about the debates and the impending approval of the resolution.

Shouts of “sa kalsada na lang ang labanan! (bring the fight to the streets!)” and pained questions about the future of Philippine democracy reverberated throughout the social-networks, with Twitter and Plurk users providing blow-by-blow accounts and reactions that ranged from bemused to shocked and outraged.

Opposition congressmen tried to block the approval of HR 1109, with some valiantly opposing the apparent railroading of the measure. But the sheer number of Arroyo’s allies was overwhelming.

Shortly before the voting, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo wondered aloud on the podium why administration representatives suddenly filled the session hall. He said there must have been a “marching order” from Malacanang for them to be present Tuesday night to vote for the measure.

A majority vote, or 134 of the 265 House members, was needed to approve the resolution. Apparently, tonight’s session satisfied this requirement.

The Constituent Assembly, or Con-Ass, is one of three ways that the Constitution can be amended. Under the Con-Ass mode, both houses of Congress can convene to propose changes in the charter.

Early in the debates, which began after 5 p.m. Tuesday, arguments were made that the majority was deliberately misreading the requirements for a Con-Ass, by acting as if it were the only Congress (excluding the Senate) that the rules were referring to.

“We cannot vote alone. We are a bicameral legislature. We should follow first a joint concurrent resolution,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Gutierrez, an oppositionist congressman, pointed out during the debates.

There were also concerns that HR 1109 was too vague and lacked specifics to allow an informed vote. The resolution, said Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, “is so hollow that it does not specify what exactly are we going to vote for.”

“Tonight,” Ilagan said, “is a night of ignominy. We witnessed the tyranny of numbers.”

During the interpellation of the sponsors of the resolution, the progressive bloc in the House took turns lambasting the majority and the administration for railroading Con-Ass.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said the “public is entitled to know why there is need to change the Constitution,” pointing out that majority of Filipinos oppose Cha-cha, according to the latest SWS survey that says 42% of Filipinos are not in favor of amending Constitution.

Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza decried the absence of consultation for the measure, particularly among the marginalized sector. “No resource persons from marginalized sectors were invited to committee hearings to hear their positions,” she said.