Mobile Alerts  Newsletter  Archives  About Us  Advertise with Us Twitter GMANews.TV Facebook GMANews.TV RSS GMANews.TV
National

Bishop: ‘Con-ass solons’ not representing constituents

MANILA, Philippines - Pro-administration lawmakers who insist on pushing a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution show they have lost touch with their constituents, a Catholic archbishop said.

Cotabato archbishop Orlando Quevedo said these lawmakers are also further pulling down the already adverse image of the House of Representatives.

"On this important matter, they no longer represent the people but only themselves," Quevedo said in his web log and on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website.

He branded such persistent moves for a constituent assembly as "stupid."

"Why, oh, why should the Lower House continue to push a concern that seems to be so self-serving and so unpopular? It pushes credibility to its lower depths. Sometimes I wonder what 'Lower House' really means,"
he added.

Quevedo urged lawmakers to instead focus on more urgent concerns that the country and particularly the poor people are currently facing.

He said lawmakers need to seriously consider the impact of economic globalization and the global financial meltdown.

Another concern that must be addressed soonest, he said, is the growing divide between the government and the Bangsamoro and the undeclared but continuing war in the Cotabato areas.

Quevedo reiterated the position of the CBCP that no process of Charter change should be allowed that intends to extend terms of office and that the 2010 elections must proceed.

He said that if constitutional amendments are to proceed it must not be by constituent assembly but by constitutional convention that must be imbued with integrity and transparency.

"I have a personal conviction about two provisions: a new constitution must not do away with the pro-life and pro-poor provisions of the present Constitution; it must also provide a constitutional basis for Moro self-determination, without violating national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Quevedo said.

He said that there must also be widespread people consultation regarding what needs to be changed in the Constitution. - GMANews.TV
Other Nation stories
Marcoses win back Laguna mansion from govt
02/10/2010 | 12:39 AM
The Marcos family has regained ownership of a 25-hectare property in Cabuyao, Laguna that the government had confiscated more than two decades ago. More
Villar caps first campaign day with song, fireworks
02/09/2010 | 11:06 PM
Senator Manuel Villar Jr. on Tuesday evening capped the first day of his 90-day campaign for presidency with a song number. More
Jamby vows ‘non-traditional’ campaign for presidency
02/09/2010 | 10:53 PM
No big proclamation rallies. No “hakot" (paid and bused-in) crowd during sorties. No flashy campaign advertisements. Only discussions of platforms and interaction with people. More
Kin of 43 arrested health workers seek SC help
02/09/2010 | 09:58 PM
Families of the 43 arrested health workers in Rizal province on Tuesday sought protection from the Supreme Court against the government, particularly the military and the police. More
Maynilad, workers settle labor dispute
02/09/2010 | 08:48 PM
A Metro Manila water distributor and its employees have settled a labor dispute, ensuring continued service for some six million residents of the Philippine capital. More
Estrada vows to regain the presidency ‘stolen from him’
02/09/2010 | 08:46 PM
In what he said was his first step on the road to redemption, deposed President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday began his campaign to regain the presidency, which he was forced to give up after a massive... More
Gibo highlights LGU support in kick-off sortie
02/09/2010 | 08:02 PM
Forty district representatives, twenty city mayors, and over a hundred local executives from all over the country attended Tuesday’s sortie of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD in Antipolo City to officially... More
Comelec allows Pagdanganan to assume Bulacan gubernatorial post
02/09/2010 | 07:58 PM
Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan can finally assume the post of Bulacan governor after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave the go signal on Tuesday. More
An apple pie for Noynoy on his 50th birthday
02/09/2010 | 07:26 PM
Presidential aspirant Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III received an apple pie on his 50th birthday last Monday. It was not an ordinary apple pie, though. It came from his girlfriend, Valenzuela... More
Wowowee spoof highlights start of Villar-Legarda campaign
02/09/2010 | 06:36 PM
A spoof of the popular noontime show Wowowee – complete with a song-and-dance number and a contest – highlighted the start of the campaign of presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and his... More
ADVERTISEMENT
Kin of 43 arrested health workers seek SC help
2010-02-09 21:58:29
Families of the 43 arrested health workers in Rizal province on Tuesday sought protection from...
Troubled NSAs urged: Set aside differences, send best bets to Asiad
2010-02-09 10:57:48
PSC Chairman Harry Angping batted for National Sports Associations (NSAs) embroiled in squabble...
Robin Padilla’s son eyes showbiz
2010-02-08 16:36:49
Ten-year-old Ali Padilla, Robin Padilla’s youngest child by ex-wife Liezl Sicangco, is bent on...
Piglet with three eyes and two snouts born in Ilocos Sur
2010-02-08 12:42:41
A healthy piglet with three eyes and two snouts is currently the talk of the town in Narvacan,...