The newly-formed Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) today aired the possibility of a People Power-backed, minority-led mutiny in Congress if the House leadership insists on convening Congress into a constituent assembly under House Resolution 1109.
Makabayan, which includes incumbent opposition party list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan said massive protests and street actions should be used to persuade or pressure congressmen into abandoning the “House-only” con-ass mode of amending the Constitution.
Makabayan President and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo observed that “the thousands of protesters that gather in Makati and in several urban centers today will pave the way to powerful protests of hundreds of thousands and even millions the moment Malacanang and its lackeys in the House pushes through with convening con-ass.”
“Given the widespread outrage against HR 1109, it is still possible for majority of our congressmen to have second thoughts about supporting GMA’s con-ass. If our colleagues see hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets, I’m sure they will realize their folly,” said Ocampo said.
Makabayan is firmly against amendments that will favor Arroyo’s perpetuation in power, and institute pro-foreign and repressive provisions in the Constitution.
Ocampo, who is also House Deputy Minority Leader, said that if the protests intensify, it would not be far-fetched for the Minority to lead a mutiny against the House leadership.
“Remember, majority of the congressmen decided to hide behind a viva voce vote in approving HR 1109 precisely because they knew there would be a political backlash. Now that the anger is spilling to the streets, it would be to their and the country’s best interest to side with the minority in preventing HR 1109 from ever being implemented,” he said.
“We know for a fact that there is a good number of congressmen who actually oppose the House-only Con-Ass and may withdraw their support to HR 1109 at the right time,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo said when Congress resumes its sessions next month, the Minority would immediately oppose the convening of a constituent assembly. “By that time, the people’s voice would have been heard loud and clear in and out of Congress.”
“Given the massive and widespread protests, the pro-administration congressmen might not risk being identified with something as revolting as con-ass. Just to save face, they might even support a move to declare all seats vacant,” Ocampo said. #
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Our country in chaos because of the chosen few.
Hope this will serve as a lesson for us, the Filipino people, that just voting a popular individual without scrutinizing and realizing what this individual is, have done in the past, the said individual's family and supporter’s lifestyle, could cost the country's future.
Every politician, current and wannabes, that I had seen on TV, heard on radio and read on newsprint have been involved in a predicament that affects our country.
With untoward actions, minimal or grossed, they should not have been voted in whatever office they wanted to occupy.
Of course everybody knows it, as you can hear from the barbers at the kanto to the IT Professionals in their hub.
But then again, why, considering the available information that we can see, heard and smell about their wrongdoings, do we or need to VOTE for them?