The Peru Cabal & Gloria's Triple Assault Against the Charter

Is'nt odd that Batangas Congressman Hermigildo Mandanas who surreptitiously wrote and submitted to the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Cong. Victor Ortega Resolution No. 550 calling for the conversion of the House to a Constituent assembly is now among the 40 or so Congressmen traveling with the President somewhere in Latin America? Gloria just finished her APEC forum stint and reportedly went to a Latin American country for a side trip. No one actually knows where the president is right now simply because the Office of the Press Secretary keeps a tight lid on this.

Since there's no news about their activities in that faraway land of the Aztecs, many are actually saying that Gloria and her 40 Congressmen allies are now plotting on how to speed up the process of charter change. Since Cong. Matias Defensor and about 42 other Congressmen on the House Committee on Justice already killed the impeachment complaint, it is time for Gloria and her band of misfits to start tinkering with the Constitution and amend certain provisions to accommodate their self-serving proposals. Resolution No. 550 is particularly important to note because it calls for the mode or manner by which Congress would try to amend the Constitution.

As I wrote in a previous post, Gloria actually has three Trojan Horses, a triple assault on the Charter. The first one is the proposal of Speaker Nograles, which calls for the lifting of some nationalist economic provisions in the Constitution to favor foreign investments. Second, is the Villafuerte proposal which calls for charter change and the lifting of term limits (effectively giving Gloria up to 2011) and the Mandanas Resolution which, it appears, have been created and passed by a Committee which did not even heard nor conducted anything about it (Cong. Victor Ortega was shocked when he learned that there was a Resolution 550. This was after he publicly told Atty. Colmenares that the Mandanas proposal was just a "figment of the attorney's imagination". Napahiya si Ortega. Ortega was made to look like an idiot today)

Gloria's allies want these proposals (including that of Villafuerte's) to be discussed, debated and passed before January 2009. Why the rush? Because any moves to amend the charter will be rendered useless if done 120 days prior to the May 10, 2010 elections. If Congress dilly-dallies with charter change, proposals might encounter a technical snag since the House will adjourn soon. Proposals should be made immediately in the 14th Congress so that it would not be passed over to the 15th Congress, given that members of the 15th Congress, particularly re-electionists, will all be too busy doing things for their electoral survival instead of spending time attending charter change deliberations. This explains the rush of Gloria to pass these proposals and what I heard, Gloria's cabal are really determined to railroad the proceedings and push charter change prior to 2009. The timing is most crucial and critical for Gloria because this is the only chance left for her to marshall her allies and effect a term extension.

The only option for anti-charter change groups is to do out-of-the box rebel actions to push the envelope. If they rely on availing legal options to repulse Gloria, they might encounter defeat since Gloria's gang will just neutralize these actions.

As I am writing this, I received information that Gloria's men are meeting in a secluded place in Malacanang and plotting for their next move. With the impeachment complaint squashed, the palace political operator is reportedly plotting to oust ex-Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. The ouster of JDV will be made in a political caucus by Lakas members. Former palace legal counsel Sergio Apostol is allegedly the one tasked to cut JDV's head.

I think this plot will just be a counter-plot since it will just anticipate the expected bolt of the JDV-FVR faction in Lakas to coalesce with Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party and Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco's Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). Sources say there is already an understanding between FVR and Cojuangco while FVR's group reportedly is almost close to talks with Villar's. Meaning, Lakas is just trying to mitigate the effects of a formal split, since obviously, Malacanang, for the longest time, has been trying to marginalize both JDV and FVR.

A split within Lakas will definitely affect the strength and stability of the entire "rainbow coalition" at the House. It would impact particularly on KAMPI, since majority of its members are former Lakas stalwarts. If JDV and FVR succeeds in coalescing with Danding and Villar, the possibility of another party raid within Kampi-Lakas is huge given that JDV and FVR still commands respect among the old guards of Lakas. In practical terms, with Danding and Villar united, this sends a message to Congressmen that the gravy train has shifted from Gloria to again, the JDV-FVR tandem.

JDV's marginalization will all be done immediately after the AFP attack on Camp Bushra of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Reports say, the AFP brass is preparing for an outright assault on Bushra this December. JDV's ouster from Lakas will coincide with this military assault.

By the way, Joey de Venecia the Third, who I find to be a very serious Nationalist, sent me his statement stating his opinions on the killing of his impeachment complaint. This is what he has to say:

STATEMENT OF JOEY DE VENECIA III
DISMISSAL OF IMPEACHMENT CASE
DUE TO INSUFFICIENCY OF SUBSTANCE
November 26, 2008


This is a sad day not only for us the complainants and the minority lawmakers, but more so for the Filipino people. Our right to take President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to task has again been taken away from us.
As our minority lawmakers have said repeatedly, this process is a way to let government show the transparency that the Constitution mandates.
The impeachment process is the proper and legal forum to let the people know what is happening and to allow the government and its officials to explain themselves.
It appears that the government would rather that the people take its grievances to the street than offer them a decent and legal forum.
The House Justice Committee might have stopped the impeachment complaint but I assure everyone that the Committee cannot stop us from airing our grievances and allegations in any and all other forums available to us.
We will bring this case straight to the people. We will go to them and talk to them. We will put out into the open what the government would rather keep under the cloak of darkness.
I give my utmost appreciation to all those who supported us in any way. I thank the Filipino people for their sentiments and their prayers.
We will not keep quiet. The fight in the halls of Congress may be over but the real fight for truth and justice goes on.

Sneak Attack

Pampanga Congressman Mikey Arroyo was interviewed recently about the alleged machinations being done to extend the term of her mother. ” It’s next to impossible to do that (term extension). How would these Congressmen extend my mother’s term through Charter Change? Will they risk extending the term of an unpopular president?” Mikey said.

Let’s contextualize what Mikey just said (I just paraphrased it). He says Congressmen would not risk extending her mother’s term. That’s true. First termers especially, would not risk supporting an unpopular president. It’s not good politics.

However, they may support a measure lifting all term limits of all elected government officials. This would only happen, if Congress succeeds in altering or amending the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly.

How will they do that? Simple. Speaker Nograles’ proposal to lift the 40% foreign equity ownership cap is one. Nograles already announced that he has the numbers. Surely, in the next few days, we’ll see Congress massaging this issue before the media. They’ll say, Nograles proposal is not for Gloria’s term extension. No. This bill is just one of so many meant to enhance the economic competitiveness of the country.

Many will oppose it and file a complaint before the Supreme Court. Basing on their behavior last week, this bill will be rendered constitutional by the SC, opening up the charter for more revisions. By that time, possibly January of next year, we may yet find ourselves having ten more years of Gloria.

His mother may be unpopular. But she’s in power. And nothing, no one, can stop her.

By the way, those of you who may want to read the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Roque etal, click here.

Congress will dance the cha-cha on November 10

Speaker Nograles will definitely get the votes for Cha-cha come November 10. The administration has all the numbers in. I'm not at liberty to reveal the source of this information, but for all you people and friends out there, you might want to consider doing something to avert a national disaster waiting to happen come November 10.

The proposal for charter change is sure to be discussed and passed by that date. I know my good friend Harry Roque, the Black and White Movement and the FSGO know about this. Let me propose something--refocus your energies on heightening public support against this Charter Change move.

Senator Mar Roxas has issued his statement against any cha-cha moves. He should be asked to join the growing clamour against cha-cha. Fears of Gloria extending her term seemed to be true. I have on good authority that there is a covert plan by Gloria's lieutenants, foremost is the Fascist in Robes, to create a "situation" as a diversionary tactic. 

In these trying times, I call upon every citizen of this beloved country to remain vigilant. We must not let this paradise slip quietly in the dead of the night. Let us prevent the Nightmares of dictatorship happen again, no, not in our lifetimes.

I also call on the Patriots of the New Generation to rise up and take history by the horns. Your organisation is slowly being destroyed, corrupted by greedy, evil-doers in barongs. Also, those Patriots in the trenches, the Motherland is in pain. Give succor to the Motherland; ease her of her pains. And let the New Morning cast blessings to everyone.