MANILA, Philippines?The House of Representatives is planning to use the federalism bill of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to induce senators to attend the constituent assembly (Con-ass) it hopes to convene shortly after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27.

?Why don?t we meet together just to discuss this (federalism), because it?s their proposal anyway. If they (senators) will not attend, it will show that they are not serious about it,? Speaker Prospero Nograles said in a press conference.

Nograles said Pimentel?s bill, which seeks to create 11 states with Metro Manila as the seat of power under a federal presidential bicameral form of government, had the support of 13 senators.

The measure was filed in 2008 well ahead of House Resolution No. 1109 (which proposes to convene a Con-ass with Congress voting jointly and not separately) and House Resolution No. 737 (which proposes to lift restrictions on foreign investments).

?We can convene a Con-ass and put Nene Pimentel?s federalism bill and my resolution on investment restrictions as the only agenda we will tackle,? Nograles said.

The House could also send an invitation to senators who had already indicated they would not attend. Nograles said that this was why the House would use the federalism bill the Senate had approved to lure the senators into attending the Con-ass.

?I will consult with leaders of the House a week before the SONA to decide our course of action,? Nograles said.

He said that convening the Con-ass would only take a simple majority of members of Congress.

Critics, he said, need not worry that amendments would be railroaded because constitutional revisions like lifting of term limits would require a three-fourths vote.

But Nograles said the Supreme Court must decide soon on whether HR 1109?s definition of a constituent assembly was the right one in view of the mounting street protests against Charter change (Cha-cha) moves that critics said were aimed at perpetuating Ms Arroyo in power.

Representatives Rodolfo Antonino of Nueva Ecija and Jose Solis of Sorsogon said that the court could hand down a ruling in one or two months, which would then give lawmakers enough time to revise the Constitution before the 2010 elections.

?Devious intent?

Pimentel said he was ?saddened? that his federalism bill, which he stressed was a ?very good? measure, ?can?t move forward? because of ?the devious intent on the part of some people.?

?It?s unfortunate that people who you thought were well-meaning turn out to be unworthy of that esteem that you have placed in them,? Pimentel said in a phone interview.

He expressed the belief that the recent unanimous resolution passed by the Senate opposing any Charter revision without the Senate would ?stay put? and ?would prevent any senator from engaging in personal agreements or negotiations with the House.

?They will not sacrifice the good name they have for an enterprise that is bound to fail,? he said.

Pimentel said the latest action by the congressmen showed they were ?trying to save the situation? as well as ?show that they?re reasonable when they?re not? in pushing for Con-ass without the Senate.

?Out of touch?

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said lawmakers who claimed that there was still time to amend the 1987 Constitution and do it without the Senate were ?so out of touch with reality.?

?Not without a budget, and, most importantly, not without the support of the people,? Pangilinan said in a statement.

He asked these lawmakers to have pity on the country.

?The people are clamoring for regime change via elections, not Charter change,? Pangilinan said.

?We implore the President to use her remaining term in office to repair the damage done by her allies in pushing for an illegal constitutional assembly,? he added.

Sen. Francis Escudero warned of ?bigger and louder? protest rallies until those responsible for the ?illegal and immoral? HR 1109 ?grow a conscience.?

?Plain and simple, I see this as a means for those in power to perpetuate themselves in office. I encourage those behind this campaign to stop insulting the people?s intelligence,? Escudero said in a statement.

In Tacloban City, Jebri Gil Sida, regional chair of the Kabataan party list group, said youth groups would mount a campaign against the 12 congressmen from the region who signed HR 1109, saying they ?betrayed? their constituents.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) of Capiz passed a resolution Thursday criticizing the Con-ass move, saying it ?is not only illegal but also immoral.? With reports from Joey A. Gabieta and Felipe Celino, Inquirer Visayas