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Today's Frontpage
Palace backtracks, now favors constitutional convention, too
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
PICKING up the cue from its allies in the House, Malaca�ang said Saturday that
it, too, was now in favor of electing delegates to a constitutional convention
instead of convening Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the
Constitution.
Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the shift to the remaining
mode of Charter change -- the third mode, the people�s initiative, was
rejected by the Supreme Court -- might finally harness popular support for the
administration�s plans to amend the Constitution and effect a change in the
system of government.
"We hope that finally through a constitutional convention elected directly by
the people, the advocacy for political and constitutional reforms can rally
the support of the entire Congress and all the sectors of society in a spirit
of unity dedicated only to the best interest of the nation," Claudio said, at
the same time lauding the House majority�s decision to push through with the
May elections.
"We laud and support the position of the House to push on with the elections
of May 14 next year," he said. "We also join them as well as the other sectors
in urging the whole Congress, Senate and House combined, to immediately call
for a constitutional convention."
The shift to a constitutional convention was announced at a press conference
by House Speaker Jose de Venecia.
The administration�s sudden turnaround on the mode of amending the
Constitution came in the wake of threats by the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines, the charismatic group El Shaddai, the Jesus is Lord Movement
of defeated presidential aspirant Eddie Villanueva, militant groups and civil
society, to stage mass protests next week if the House decided to forge on
with the constituent assembly.
The administration had insisted that it could convene a constituent assembly
and approve proposed Constitutional amendments without the Senate�s
participation.
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