‘Drilon reneged on vow to support constituent assembly’

Pro-Charter change congressmen said Senate President Franklin Drilon twice reneged on his promise to President Arroyo to support moves for a constituent assembly to pave the way for a parliamentary system of government.

A senior administration lawmaker said on at least two occasions, Drilon along with Mrs. Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia met with some leaders in business and academe at Malacañang and in the United States to discuss the need for amending the Constitution.

"One meeting was in the US during the President’s official trip there, and he said he was convinced that there must be political and structural reforms and that the constituent assembly is the fastest and least expensive way to bring that about," the lawmaker said.

In another instance, Drilon gave his commitment of support shortly after the July 27 failed coup attempt, the source said.

"The heart of the matter is that many of them want to be president (or) vice president in the hope of being the president in the succeeding elections," the lawmaker said.

Drilon made the promise even before Mrs. Arroyo said last Thursday she was supporting moves for a change to a parliamentary form of government.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier told reporters in Cebu City that a parliamentary system is better to speed up political and economic reforms.

But she has proposed the holding of a Con-con — a constitutional convention with elected delegates — which she said is "the least divisive way to bring about change."

She wanted issue of Charter change handled after the May 2004 elections.

Short on calling for his ouster, congressmen, however, pressed on Drilon to inhibit himself from Charter change discussions and allow "young, patriotic and idealistic" senators to handle the issue of constituent assembly.

The lawmakers led by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House committee on accounts, said since Drilon assumed the Senate presidency, "he’s being rated and it shows that nothing has been accomplished under his stewardship."

"I think he (Drilon) should inhibit himself from discussions on Charter reforms and relinquish the same to the young, patriotic, dynamic and idealistic senators (of) which there are many," Barbers said. "He has not helped the Senate to be productive."

Barbers noted the Senate, under the leadership of Drilon, has been sitting on more than 100 vital national bills and 500 local bills.

This despite Drilon’s professing to be concerned for the people and pushing for reforms, he said.

"I thought we are all for political and economic reforms. Are we all sitting and waiting for the next elections?" Barbers asked.

The Surigao legislator said after the May elections next year under the same presidential system, the people would end up electing officials he described as the "same dog only with a new collar."

And going by the track record of the present Senate leadership, Barbers said the bicameral system remains to be unproductive.

For his part, Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Drilon should heed the "call of the times before it is too late" by spearheading the convening of a constituent assembly to effect constitutional amendments.

"We appeal to Senator Drilon to rise above petty interests and politics and heed the true call of the people for change," Zubiri said.

Zubiri said Drilon should immediately schedule a plenary debate on the Senate committee report by Sen. Edgardo Angara, calling for Charter changes.

Zubiri said the Senate leadership should take note that the call for a change in the form of government came not only from lawmakers but also from local government officials.

He said unlike the senators, congressmen and local officials, including governors, mayors and barangay officials, have direct and clear constituencies and are in the best position to know the people’s needs and aspirations.

"We have a direct and extraordinary relationships with our constituents," Zubiri said. "We dialogue with them, we know their faces, their names, their families because they are our neighbors."

Both lawmakers said Drilon and the senators have spent most of their time holed up in their chambers and even if they tour the countryside, they have no constituents to speak of.

This is the reason why a resolution was signed by 187 congressmen and local officials calling for both chambers of Congress to convene to introduce amendments to the 1987 Constitution, Zubiri said.

Congressmen unanimously approved for the second time recently a resolution calling for a constituent assembly to introduce reforms in the Constitution and pave the way for the change of government to a parliamentary system.

Drilon and some senators have blocked the passage of the resolution in maintaining their proposal for the holding of a Con-con.

Congressmen have argued that Con-con is more expensive and time consuming as against a constituent assembly where they themselves would introduce Charter amendments for a parliamentary form of government.

‘Legislative tyranny’

Barbers warned local officials are already threatening to boycott and even campaign against senators who are opposing the convening of a constituent assembly.

He also challenged the senators to explain why they are going against resolutions of constituent assembly by the House which is a co-equal lawmaking body with the Senate.

He said the House and the people "cannot allow legislative tyranny here, where less than 18 senators are holding this entire country hostage."

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rufino Rozzano Biazon and Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro said the senators appear to be "out of touch with reality" in opposing Charter reforms.

They said the campaign to amend the Constitution is becoming a clash between the young and old generation of lawmakers.

Teodoro, a ranking leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) considered the second biggest political party in the country, said it is the younger generation that has the largest stake in Charter reforms.

Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez added it is up to "Drilon’s conscience to deal with urgent issue (of unicameral system)," adding it is not only the Senate that will be abolished in the shift but also the House.

De Venecia also noted the Senate’s inaction on vital bills is one of the reasons the government is suffering from huge lack of funds.

De Venecia cited the Transco Bill passed by the House a year ago, which would free the government from subsidizing the National Power Corp.

He said the measure can raise up to $3 billion and free about P150 million in government funds that can be used for other vital economic projects.

The House leader said foreign investors are waiting since they have already expressed their willingness to fund the repair and construction of more railroads in the country.

But the Senate inaction on the bill cannot authorize the undertaking of the projects, De Venecia said.