MANILA, Philippines—The usually low-key Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales Thursday spoke up to denounce the renewed plan of administration allies in the House of Representatives to amend the 1987 Constitution by themselves through a constituent assembly (Con-ass).

In an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas, Rosales said the job of amending the Charter could not be entrusted to those in power because of their vested interests.

“Who should do the work? Not those in power or those in Congress. Why? Because they are the ones to be affected. They shouldn’t do it,” he said in Filipino.

The cardinal also expressed opposition to the proposal of some administration allies to postpone the May 2010 national elections and extend the terms of office of all elected officials, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, while a new Constitution is being drafted.

“Sometimes people would toy with the idea. But it can’t be allowed. Let’s not tempt those in government and the people to set aside the elections. We should follow the law—that there should be elections in 2010,” Rosales said.

Also on Radio Veritas, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), called on Ms Arroyo to order her allies in the House to desist from pushing Charter change through a Con-ass.

“We hope she would stop her allies from pursuing Charter change. We hope she would focus on governance, especially in the face of the economic crisis,” Lagdameo said, adding that a Con-ass could be open to “manipulation.”

The Church hierarchy’s position is that any amendment of the Constitution should be done by a constitutional convention whose members are popularly elected.

Political dynasties

Rosales cited a provision in the 1987 Constitution (Article II, Section 26) prohibiting political dynasties.

“The Constitution bans family dynasties. If you leave the matter up to Congress, they might remove that provision. So only disinterested parties should amend the Constitution, not the congressmen,” he said.

(The constitutional ban against political dynasties has yet to be implemented for lack of an “implementing law” because members of Congress cannot agree on the definition of a political dynasty.)

To ensure against the postponement of the 2010 elections, Rosales said any constitutional amendments should be made after the polls.

Velarde’s prerogative

“Any amendment of the Charter should not disrupt the present. The 2010 elections should push through; there should be no postponement,” he said.

Lagdameo said it was the “prerogative” of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde to announce that he would lead street protests against any moves to amend the Constitution before the 2010 elections.

“[Velarde’s] statement is in conformity with what the CBCP has already expressed,” Lagdameo said.

“We are against Charter change now, and if ever there should be Charter change, it should be after 2010 and by means of a constitutional convention so that the people will have a wider participation by electing the members,” he added.

The CBCP has not issued a call similar to the one Velarde aired on Tuesday. But Bangon Pilipinas, the political party of Jesus is Lord Movement evangelist and former presidential aspirant Eddie Villanueva, has declared that it would join the Dec. 12 multisectoral rally against Charter change in Makati City.

Lagdameo said he was not part of the preparations for the rally. Nevertheless, he said, he would back it because “it reflects our common sentiment.”

First since 2003

Militant and civil society groups nationwide will mount various mass actions against Charter change (Cha-cha) starting next week. A demonstration is also scheduled on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.

These will be a prelude to the Dec. 12 interfaith rally dubbed “Stop Gloria’s Cha-cha Now” (Labanan ang Cha-cha ni Gloria) at the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati City.

Organizers said the rally would be the first anti-Cha-cha mass action since 2003. They said similar protests would also be conducted in the provinces and in major cities like Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.

Participants

Among the participating groups are the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, Youth Act Now!, Promotion of Church People’s Response, United Opposition, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipinas, Concerned Citizens Movement, Edsa 3 Coalition, Sanlakas, and Coalition for National Transformation.

According to Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, lawmakers and former presidents, including Joseph Estrada, will be invited to join the mass action.

“We are going to issue formal invitations to senators, former presidents, and former senior government officials. No one will be excluded,” Reyes said on the phone.

He said potential presidential candidates had also been invited.

But while politicians will take part in the rally, “no one will monopolize the stage,” he said.

‘If I have to’

Estrada, who was convicted of plunder and quickly pardoned by Ms Arroyo, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was willing to lead rallies against Charter change.

“I will lead the people in the streets to make our voices heard if I have to, even if they (the administration) threaten to imprison me again. I have always maintained that my freedom is only secondary to the freedom of the Filipino people, including freedom from abuse by this administration,” he said.

In a statement issued Thursday by his spokesperson Margaux Salcedo, Estrada confirmed having been invited to the Dec. 12 rally.

He said he would “definitely attend” if his physical presence were needed, but that he had yet to decide whether he would march with other groups.

Estrada said his supporters wanted Ms Arroyo’s administration to end in 2010. “We just want to be sure that our people are not robbed of their chosen leader a third time, this time by means of Charter change,” he said.

‘Most urgent demand’

But for all that, Speaker Prospero Nograles is bent on pursuing Charter change.

In a statement, Nograles said amending the Constitution’s economic provisions was the “most urgent demand of the times” in light of a possible global recession.

But he softened his stance on the mode of amending the Charter, saying he was amenable to either a Con-ass or a constitutional convention.

“The mode through which reforms can be instituted is just a secondary concern. Any mode is OK with me as long as it will correct the Constitution’s highly restrictive economic provisions. What matters most is to hasten reforms so that this country can move on, and fast,” he said.

Nograles has authored a resolution proposing the amendment of the Charter’s economic provisions.

He has also signed the resolution drafted by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, a member of Ms Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino political party, calling for a Con-ass where the two chambers of Congress will vote jointly on proposed changes.

Such a voting scheme will render the Senate virtually inutile because it has far less numbers compared to the House.

Nograles also said he would not stop any member of the House from pursuing Charter change. He said that as Speaker, he would not prevent open, objective and comprehensive debates on issues of reform.

“This is what democracy is all about,” he declared. “Each member of the House is free to bring to fore issues of public concern, including what and how to institute reforms in the Constitution.”

He added that he would back calls for a constitutional convention if that was the Senate sentiment.

Another method

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez batted for Charter change using the same process as passing a law.

Golez said this method, now being discussed by the House committee on constitutional amendments, would allow for piecemeal revisions of the Charter.

“I think those who are thinking of amending the Constitution in a big way are bound to fail. I have not seen the Villafuerte resolution,” he said.

“I think that’s doomed to fail, if it’s meant to change the form of government or change the term limits or whatever, because the resistance is going to be very strong. But if they see it’s a specific amendment, I think it is more palatable,” he added.

Under the proposed method, the changes will be proposed in a resolution to be heard by the committee and then submitted to the plenary for debate, Golez said.

He said the process was necessarily bicameral.