‘No turning back on Cha-cha’

Despite the odds, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. is not giving up on efforts to rewrite the 1987 Constitution for a parliamentary form of government.

Notwithstanding the defeat of the people’s initiative petition in the Supreme Court, De Venecia declared "victory (is) at hand" in the effort to amend the Constitution.

"Our vision for reform is clear and we will not change course. We are not giving up (on Charter change). I think we’re even close to victory," De Venecia told a news conference at Dusit Hotel in Makati City yesterday.

De Venecia expressed hopes for a possible reversal of the SC ruling that dismissed the people’s initiative petition last month.

He pointed to the possibility of an even score in the voting for the motion for reconsideration over the Oct. 25 ruling in the upcoming retirement of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban on Dec. 7.

Panganiban was said to be the swing vote in the historic 8-7 voting that dismissed the people’s initiative.

President Arroyo’s appointment of a new SC justice may still save the day for the failed initiative, he said.

"We are hoping that before Christmas or early January (next year) these issues can be resolved. Unfortunately, we were delayed by this one vote defeat," De Venecia pointed out.

He said they will have to wait for the SC ruling before they could take their next step.

But in event the high tribunal upholds its verdict, De Venecia said they will push for "Plan B" or the holding of a constituent assembly (con-ass) to introduce amendments to the Constitution.

"We have the standby Plan B formula," De Venecia said. — Delon Porcalla