Friday, October 10, 2008 City dads hit Senate for ratifying Jpepa
TWO Davao City councilors and a development group were disappointed over the Senate's ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) on Wednesday.
"It is a lopsided agreement that Filipinos will have to bear. The agreement is advantageous only to the Japanese," Councilor Leonardo Avila III said in a text message.
Councilor Peter Laviña, who initiated the passage of a resolution rejecting the pact last March, said the matter "went down as the second surrender of the Philippines to Japan".
"The others I expected to vote against simply were no show. Senators Joker Arroyo and Pia Cayetano, both vocal against crucial provisions in the pact, were absent or "conveniently absent. Noisy oppositionist Senator Panfilo Lacson ironically voted yes. Another let down is Senator Kiko Pangilinan," he said in a blogpost.
Laviña went as far as calling Senator Mar Roxas a "wimp".
"He admitted that the treaty was lopsided and yet he campaigned for it. He was more afraid of losing out to our neighbors which has similar trade agreement with Japan than its ill effects on our country and people. Roxas missed a golden opportunity to lead and shine. The victory of Japan has shown that Roxas is a mere follower, an ordinary soldier of Senate President Manny Villar, who together with Senator Miriam Santiago succeeded in mustering the required 16 collaborator votes," he said.
"Eight votes would have killed the treaty," Laviña said.
Reports said Jpepa won by a 16-4 vote with no abstention. Those who voted yes were Senators Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano, Miriam Santiago, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr, Manuel Roxas II, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate president Manuel Villar Jr, and Manuel Lapid
Those who opposed the ratification were Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr, and opposition Senators Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Francis Escudero, and Benigno Aquino III.
While anti-Jpepa groups are raring to bring the matter to the Supreme Court, Laviña said he would rather start a "Jpepa Watch".
This, he said, is "to see if the so-called promises of this treaty -- such as a flood of investment from Japan, more exports of Philippine agricultural products to Japan, more jobs for Philippine health workers in Japan, no toxic waste from Japan -- would really come true".
"If not, I would send an 'in your face!' message to the 16 senators who voted for it," he said.
Arze Glip, executive director of the Integrated Rural Development Foundation, said it was "treacherous" of the Senate to pass Jpepa just before adjournment.
"It speaks of the true color of the Philippine Senate and that it upholds foreign vested interests over the Filipino people's welfare and national sovereignty," Glipo said.
Glipo, however, commended the "valiant" stand of the four senators who opposed the passage saying it was a show of "unwavering commitment and principle to stand by the interests of the people". (GLP)
