There is something in the temper and attitude of the Filipino masses, particularly those in the middle level, that is difficult to totally ignore or neglect.
Charter change
That the Constitution needs revision or amendment should be considered a given.
Many have noted that the Charter has become inadequate to meet the challenges of fast changing realities in a modern global civilization.
Such being the case, the House leadership was presumed to be truly conversant with the matter.
The problem, however, was the manner the House majority acted.
Hidden agenda
The haste with which the House tried to initiate the revision or amendment of the Constitution invited not only the suspicion that the proponents have a hidden agenda but also that they are trying to cover personal political interest.
The House majority tried to keep off any opposition to their plans, even going to the extent of “tampering” with the House rules just to attain their end.
When the House amended its rules allowing the formation of a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) through the mere passage of a resolution sans the concurrence of the Senate, it showed a clear effort to stymie the democratic tradition of Congress.
The majority showed impatience as well as the willingness to exercise power beyond the pale of the rules that govern the operation of the House and the actuation of its members.
That the House leaders succeeded in passing the resolution on the Con-Ass showed their unfeeling resolve to attain their goal.
Proposed changes
The move provides for, among others, postponement of the 2007 mid-term regular elections, the holding of a plebiscite to usher in a change from presidential form of government to parliamentary.
The change will effectively abolish the Senate, extend the terms of office of all local government officials and allow the present set of legislators to stay in office up to 2010 when the regular elections under the new parliamentary system of government will be held.
But House leaders did not reckon with the rage of an aroused citizenry that realized how deftly their will have been sidestepped by a crafty bunch of politicians.
That Speaker De Venecia and his cohort’s plan was nipped in the bud before it could bloom should be to the credit of the alert elements of the national society that, though desiring to change the Constitution, frowned on the way the House leaders went about with it.
