Stop Con-Ass Thru RA 6735

Noli Benavent is inviting us to attend the 2nd Eye Ball event to STOP CON-ASS this Friday, June 19. Noli, who worked as an OFW in the Middle East, is very passionate about his advocacy. His Facebook account has reached 65,000 people already and he's targetting to get at least 100,000 by June 19.

I ask my friends here to please help us populate the site. Promote it among your friends. Sign up. Let's register our dissent online.

By the way, there is another less-stressful means of defeating House Resolution 1109 and that is, using the power appropriated to the people through Republic Act 6735, which is "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR."

The lower house claims that what they did was legal and constitutional last June 2, right? Should they push thru with it sans the Senate, then, the remedy is simply not question it before the Supreme Court. We must, instead, exercise our rights enunciated on this law. We must gather signatures in opposition of HR 1109 and present it to the proper Court for validation and immediate action.

In the past, this administration used RA 6735 as a pretext to change the Constitution. Let us then, turn this law on its head and use this against those who want to tinker with it.

We can petition Congress to reject HR 1109. We can go to the COMELEC to verify the signatures in opposition to this bill. All we need is ten percentum of the total registered voters population which now stands roughly at 40 million (meaning, we need 4 million signatures).

Oppositors of con-ass should undertake provincial signature caravans throughout the country and get the required number of people who'll sign our petition against HR 1109.

Change Tactics Against Cha-Cha Campaign

Last March 25, 2009, I wrote a piece entitled, " Charter Change will not lead to EDSA". I wrote there that people will not rise up to end charter change. Malacanang knows this, that's why they've been so blatant and crass in their approaches.

I am sticking to this analysis----there'll be no widespread uprising unless the main oppositors against charter change change their tactics. What do I mean by this?

Obviously, the palace is using the "old bogey" of politics behind these moves against charter change simply because we see the same old, tired faces talking infront of the crowd during these anti-charter change rallies. We see old veterans of the streets hugging headlines and trying to rally the people behind their cause.

The people will not join them simply because the people want new faces to lead the campaign, this movement to protect democracy.

Look at the thinning numbers of people going to those rallies. Yesterday, the number of people who went to Ayala was estimated at only around 13,000. That's a dismal number. Imagine, people know that we now face the very prospect of cha-cha, yet, the numbers did not even reach 15,000.

Why? Is it because the people are already tired of going to rallies? No. Is it because the organizers failed to properly inform everybody about this rally? No. Or, is it because the police tried to prevail some people from going to the rally site? Again, no.

People don't go to these rallies simply because they think that nothing will ever come about it. If they see perhaps that after these demonstrations, they'll be someone or some group who'll rise up to confront the palace in an armed confrontation, they'll surely go. That is what the people want to see.

They want to confront this government through arms. Ask every Filipino and you'll get the same answer. It is only the counter-elite who does not want armed confrontation.

Let the Lower House convene itself into a Constituent Assembly come July 27, 2009 or even before that. Let them tinker with the Constitution. Let no oppositor file any case questioning the conduct of the Lower House before the Supreme Court. And even let the Arroyo regime institute a State of Emergency or even Martial Law.

Let them. Because I surely believe that their action will cause the rising of the Filipino People.

Hinog na ang Panahon sa pagkilos

Parang hindi yata tama na, nakapatong na yung rapist mo, at naka-umang ang baril sa iyong sentido at unti-unti ka nang huhubaran eh ang sasabihin mo pa eh, ipaliwanag mo muna sa akin kung bakit mo ako gagahasain at anong gusto mong gawin sa akin? Isa itong kalokohan.

Tama na maging isang informed action ang gawin, ngunit, sa tingin ko, sapat na ang information campaign laban sa charter change. Sapat na rin ang ginagawang oposisyon laban sa HR 1109. Ang kailangang gawin ay ang pag-organisa ng taumbayan sa ilalim ng liderato ng mga tunay na rebolusyunaryo. Higit kailanman, hinog ang panahon tungo sa pagsasanib puwersa ng mga nasasa ligal at nasasa rebolusyunaryong kilusan upang makalikom ng sapat na puwersang mas malakas kaysa sa puwersa ng Estado.

Kailangang kumilos, hindi mag debate o mag diskursyon. Tapos na ang diskursyon at nararapat sa panahong ito ang sama-samang pagkilos tungo sa pagbabago.

Sa tunguhing ito, nararapat din na maghanda ang mga grupo sa posibilidad ng deklarasyon ng batas militar o at the least, a State of National Emergency. Inihahanda ng Estado ang kanyang sarili sa kaganapang ito at kailangang mas handa ang mga nais ng pagbabago sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Halimbawa, kung may armadong puwersa ang Estado, nararapat ding may armadong komponente ang kilusan ng pagbabago. Sa aking analisis, ang krisis na ito ang siyang magiging daan upang mapalakas na muli ang kilusa tungo sa pagbabago. Isa itong kasangkapan upang magkaisa ang mga beteranong rebolusyunaryo na pinaglayo ng magkakasalungat na ideya tungo sa tamang istratehiyang naaangkop sa sitwasyong Pilipino.

Hindi rin ako naniniwalang lalakas ang rehimeng Arroyo sa sandaling humupa ang galit ng taumbayan sa ginawang katalampasanan ng kanyang mga galamay. Sa aking palagay, hinog na ang panahon at handa na ang Sambayanang Pilipino na tapusin ang rehimeng ito.

Gagap din ng Sambayanang Pilipino ang pangangailangan sa armadong pakikibaka. Iyan ang naging aral ng 1959 Cuban revolution. Ayon kay Che Guevarra, walang epekto ang masang pangkilos sa lantad kung walang puwersang armadong sumusuporta dito. Wala ding epekto ang isang armadong puwersa kung walang partisipasyon ang masa.

Kaya naman, kailangang tumibay ang simbayotikong ugnayan ng masa at ng mga rebolusyunaryong grupo. Kailangan ding pangunahan ng mga tunay na rebolusyunaryo ang hakbanging patalsikin sa kapangyarihan ang rehimeng Arroyo.

Ngayon, ano ang tamang istrukturang pamalit sa rehimeng Arroyo? Basahin sa susunod kong artikulo.

Resolution 1109: Deconstructing GMA & US Sec. Robert Gates

What prompted Mrs. Arroyo to give Speaker Nograles the go-signal to proceed with a patently illegal move last June 2, 2009? In an interview with a Congressman, House reporter Delon Porcalla of the Philippine Star today wrote that Mrs. Arroyo reportedly met with Nograles on the eve of her departure to Korea. Mrs. Arroyo allegedly told Nograles to proceed with the plan of pushing thru with the passage of the Villafuerte resolution.

Mrs. Arroyo knows how this issue would split the newly formed LAKAS KAMPI CMD. She knows the security implications of this and I believe that she heard what US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said about the position of the US government in relation to the 2010 elections. Gates categorically stated the desire of the US to see the peaceful transition of power come 2010.

She also knows that the COMELEC has just practically closed the bidding for the computerized elections, meaning, government is on the verge of spending 18 billion for this.

Now, what prompted her to give the go-signal despite the public pronouncement of the US government position? Is the visit of Gates an indication that the US knew of Mrs. Arroyo's plans and that by sending a top Obama aide here, the US hopes to dissuade her from pushing thru with her evil plan?

Studying her actions for more than ten years indicates that Mrs. Arroyo has an ace in her sleeves. That ace probably is the military.

Be vigilant, be very vigilant. Shortly after the passage of Resolution 1109, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership just completed its "routine" change of its administrators. Early on, the AFP also had its routine administrative "shakeup". Members of Class 1978, which adopted Mrs. Arroyo as honorary member, are now on the top echelon of both the PNP and the AFP. Are these generals Mrs. Arroyo's own version of Marcos' Rolex generals?

Likewise, Mrs. Arroyo is also replacing two Supreme Court magistrates with her own nominees. Is Mrs. Arroyo on the verge of completing the consolidation of executive, legislative and judicial power under her wing, backed by a loyal group of generals? It seems so.

What Mrs. Arroyo is doing is laying the groundwork for dictatorial rule. She already controls the Lower House and the recent action shows the isolation of the Senate from the scheme of things. She has the generals under her care and in the next few weeks, Mrs. Arroyo would practically control the Highest Tribunal of the land with her nominees. What would prevent her from declaring Gloria forever?

People power is the solution. This time though, there should be no letup. If we launch People Power now, it should be for the total annihilation of Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk.

On the flipside though, maybe Mrs. Arroyo is just toying with us, flexing her muscles just so that we still "toe the line" and prevent her from being a lameduck president? Some people suggested that to me. Or, quite possibly, there is really a cabal inside the palace with the honest and real intention of carving a dictatorship out of an evil kingdom?

Resolution 1109 and People Power

Father Joaquin Bernas agreed with the position taken by New Philippine Revolution that only People Power can reverse the action taken by the House of Representatives on Resolution 1109(Thea Alberto, " Charter Change could spark People Power" at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090604-208825/Charter-change-could-spark-People-Power).

Now, I don't agree with the position taken by some bloggers that there is nothing to worry about here, since Congress has not constituted itself as an Assembly. That position is faulty and worrisome because it assumes the position of Malacanang itself. Probably, they have'nt realized the gravity of the action of the Lower House.

By intentionally leaving out the Senate in the deliberations, and passage of Resolution 1109, that provocative act by the Lower House was meant as a challenge to the Senate for a showdown of force. Actually, the Lower House already succeeded in proving the irrelevance of the Senate. By arrogating full legislative powers, the Lower House just showed how the Legislature can still function by just one House.

Without any proof that democratic processes have been impaired by the exclusion of the Senate in legislative procedure, there is nothing to prevent the Lower House from moving decisively forward, since they have shown in concrete terms, that they have the numbers, and the muscle, to force such an issue.

That said, the message that the architects of Resolution 1109 is simple---it has shown the irrelevance of the Senate. The Rasputins of the Lower House even used a mere Resolution to spite the Senate. Yes, it is unconstitutional. Yes, it is immoral and patently illegal. Yet, the issue here is not about legalities or immorality, no.

This is actually an ideological or polemical war meant to justify the eventual shift from a bicameral to a unicameral form of legislature. The architects of this Resolution are trying to show the relevance of unicameralism, that one House can pass such a monumental piece of legislation by using a mere resolution.

Now, on the issue of transmittal. Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile is confident that nothing will come about this Resolution since the Lower House will eventually transmit the same to them.

Is'nt it patently clear that the Lower House is not going to do that? Since it has succeeded in the first time, why would the Lower House go the "constitutional route" when they already accomplished what they intended through the extra-constitutional route?

The Lower House already committed a heinous crime by intentionally leaving the Senate out of the process and formalizing it through a viva voce vote. All of them are liable for the crime of treason. They all know that. Now, why the rush and the brazen show of force?

These Congressmen are banking on the support of Malacanang. The 20 million pesos "bribe money" coursed thru the PDAF is just for starters. What they eventually want is for the parliamentary elections to push thru since this will give a new lease of life to third termers and give in to the plan of Malacanang for Gloria Forever.

A patently illegal move by the Lower House justifies the use of an extra-constitutional action. Why? Because that's the only recourse left for the Senate to justify its relevance in a "bicameral" form of legislature. The Senate must show its strength by marshalling its national constituency. There is no other means to counter the action taken by the Lower House.

People power is our last resort since this will show the way for the Lower House to rectify itself and do self-censure. If they don't see the numbers in the streets, they would proceed with their dastardly plan of changing the form of government.

On the legality of Resolution 1109

For all intents and purposes, Resolution 1109 is legal, except that the wordings of the bill itself is patently illegal. The Lower House has the power to deliberate and pass a Resolution. Yet, that Resolution is half-baked. It should pass to the Senate to be able to achieve full legality.

Now, what if the Lower House decides not to transmit this resolution to the Senate? What if they succeed in their provocation and constitute themselves

The Legal Option

This is my suggestion---prevent every member of the Lower House to physically attend a special session to be announced later by Speaker Nograles. Groups should do whatever means necessary to prevent Congressmen from attending this session.

Resolution 1109: Crush it Through People Power

To all freedom loving Filipinos---CRUSH THIS RESOLUTION 1109. IT IS A PLOY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MARTIAL RULE!

CRUSH THE LOWER HOUSE WITH THE MIGHT AND STRENGTH OF OUR COLLECTIVE FORCE!

We are now at war.