Militant solon: House railroaded passage of con-ass resolution

Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao. PHOTO FROM ANAKPAWIS

DAVAO CITY — The House of Representatives railroaded the passage of Resolution No. 9, clearing the way for the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass) that will amend the 1987 Constitution for a shift to federalism, a militant lawmaker told the Inquirer on Wednesday.

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, a townmate of President Duterte’s, said he was outraged at how “hastily and undemocratically” the supermajority adopted the resolution on Tuesday and that the Makabayan bloc in the House might challenge the resolution in court.

House rules violated

Casilao said the House violated anew its rules when the interpellation was abruptly stopped to put the resolution to a vote.

“I was the first to interpellate and there were several others lined after me. I was into the 44th minute of my interpellation when I was stopped by a motion questioning the quorum,” Casilao said.

When the quorum was established with 187 congressmen present, he said he thought he could proceed with his interpellation, as the rules prescribed an hour for interpellation.

“But Deputy Majority Leader (Juan Pablo) Bondoc (of Pampanga) suddenly moved for voting. We objected, but the majority went on with the division of the House even if the interpellation should have continued,” he said.

Casilao said what happened during the debate on Resolution No. 9 also happened last December when the House passed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

‘Pawn of powers-that-be’

“Not once but twice, these current Congress served as the pawn of the powers-that-be, one with the ratification of the antipeople tax reform and now the [amendment of the Constitution, both of which] are self-serving in character,” he said.

Casilao said the proponents of Charter change in the House had clearly abandoned the interest of the people and “little decency they have to support the Duterte (administration’s) delusional political ambition, to have centralized control of the government and extended tenure.”

“They are supporting the rise of a dictator,” he added.

Casilao also said his group had realized that the advancement “of progressive and propeople agenda” had no room in the House under “this kind of leadership.”

“They are hell-bent to violate (the House’s) procedure,” he said.

Casilao said the Makabayan bloc was studying its next move, including questioning Tuesday’s House proceedings in the Supreme Court.

“We in the Makabayan bloc will continue to fight for the interest of the people by opposing and exposing the Duterte-backed Charter change at all costs. The fight is not yet over,” Casilao said.