Friday, August 15, 2008 Biazon, Lacson withdraw support from federalism
SENATORS Rodolfo Biazon and Panfilo Lacson on Thursday withdrew their signatures from a controversial senate resolution calling for the convening of "Congress into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) for the purpose of revising the Constitution to establish a federal form of government."
Biazon and Lacson were among the 14 senators who signed the resolution filed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
According to Biazon, Senate Resolution No. 10 could be taking a U-turn slot back to where it came from - "NOWHERE."
"Because of the expressed support by Malacañang and the statements coming out from the proponents at the House of Representatives, a lot of slippery and winding roads loom ahead that pose danger to the Charter change move," he said.
"Many of those who signed Resolution No. 10 signed not because of positive support to the proposed amendments to the Constitution but as an expression of desire to put the issue to extensive public consultation and debate so that the public may be informed about the nature of this constitutional move to amend the Charter," he added.
He stressed that he will only support the resolution when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term in office expires in 2010.
Lacson, on the other hand, said he is in favor of federalism, but he has to back out from supporting it so that Malacañang would not be able to use the resolution for their selfish agenda.
"The concern we harbor now about Malacañang's backing for a resolution for a shift to federalism has nothing to do with our principles. But our concern has a lot to do with Malacañang's track record of political maneuvers," Lacson said.
Lacson maintained that the Palace's game plan is to extend Mrs. Arroyo's term beyond 2010.
"It's been part of their plan all along. That has been their plan since 2004, especially when the 'Hello Garci' controversy broke out. They have been working to amend the Charter, not to improve our economic provisions but for political considerations," he said.
He said that any Charter change should not benefit the present administration but the Filipino people, not now but after the President no longer rules.
Like the two senators, various sectors also doubt the interest of the Arroyo government in pushing for constitutional reforms especially when administration congressman Victor Ortega, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said no one could stop any lawmaker from inserting a provision of term extension if a Con-Ass is convened.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza however squelched as totally baseless speculations that a shift from presidential to a federal system of government through Charter change would open the way for President Arroyo to extend her term beyond 2010.
Dureza stressed that Malacañang is supporting Senate Resolution No. 10 because it jibes with the administration's aspirations for a lasting peace in Mindanao.
He pointed out that on various occasions in the past, the President reiterated that she would step down when her term ends in 2010.
For his part, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said Malacañang is neither recognizing nor authorizing any moves from administration allies to amend the Constitution for any other purpose than to change the present form of government to a federal system.
He said other purpose such of term extension for the President is not supported by the Palace.
Asked if the President is prepared to talk to her allies to stop such efforts, if there are, he said "we are very emphatic about the context under which our advocacy of federalism is being made."
"Again it is in the context of the prospective signing and moving forward of the MOA-AD (memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain) and the realization of our peace agenda in Mindanao. There is no other agenda that is being acknowledged or authorized by Malacañang," he added. (JLCP/JMR/Sunnex)
