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Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Con-ass withdrawal 'a strategic retreat': Speaker
By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
DAGUPAN CITY -- House Speaker Jose de Venecia said the House "temporarily withdrew" the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) initiative to "put an end to the historical divide and the tension and conflict within our system of government."
De Venecia issued the statement in a press conference at his residence in Dagupan City on Sunday afternoon.
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The withdrawal and archiving of the Constitutional Assembly resolution, he added, was a "strategic retreat."
"You lose the first battle so that you can win the war. You make one step backwards so that you can make two steps forward," de Venecia said.
He said he is happy with the decision of congressmen in the majority coalition to archive the resolution setting the stage for Constituent Assembly because it resulted in the "dissipation of the crisis."
"I took that initiative in my desire to unite the nation and the Filipino people on eve of Christmas," he said, adding that it "was a difficult task."
De Venecia reiterated his call to all the political parties to sit down early next year and consult religious and civil society leaders on a post-Constituent Assembly agenda
"I lead my colleagues at the House of Representatives to now adopt in caucus the approval of the Constitutional Convention option. I think it is correct that we don't just oppose, and oppose and oppose. When we oppose, we should present an alternative to our country and our people," de Venecia stressed.
He claimed the people have now accepted that there is indeed a need to reform the Constitution.
According to de Venecia, the shift from a presidential bicameral system to unicameral parliamentary government would: put an end to the fighting between the legislative and the executive, democracy of deadlock and conflict, coup attempts, habitual cycle of boom and bust, destructive and poisonous politics, impeachment after impeachment after impeachment, rallies and Edsa 1, 2, 3.
"I hope the proposal could be discussed quietly as we celebrate the holidays, as we thank the Lord for the gains of our people during the last few years."
De Venecia said the May 2007 elections would push through. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (December 19, 2006 issue)
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