Filtered By: Topstories
News

Villafuerte withdraws support from Cha-cha


(Updated 8:58 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - A key Palace ally on Monday announced that he would oppose any move to amend the 1987 Constitution before 2010 as he lashed out at the House leadership for its "mindless, directionless approach" on the issue. In a press briefing, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte conceded that moves to amend the Constitution in the House is “on the verge of dying" and said that he is withdrawing his support for any mode of changing the Charter. "If [Charter change] is already on the verge of dying, let us not prolong the agony. Any last-ditch heroic effort will be a futile exercise. Let it be of record therefore, that I am withdrawing my support directly or indirectly to any form of Cha-cha in the 14th Congress and my signature on Resolution No. 1109 is hereby irrevocably withdrawn," the lawmaker said in a statement. Villafuerte drafted the controversial House Resolution 1109, which seeks to convene Congress into a constituent assembly that would amend the Constitution. The lawmaker slammed Speaker Prospero Nograles for his approach to the Charter change (Cha-cha) issue. "Our leader in the House does not seem to know where he wants to lead us," Villafuerte said, adding that Nograles "never finishes anything" with his continuous shift from various modes to amend the Constitution. He said he was supposed to deliver a privilege speech on the issue, but seven lawmakers were already scheduled to speak before the plenary. Villafuerte said he would attend the hearing of the committee on Constitutional Amendments on Tuesday where lawmakers are expected to finally vote on HR 1109. Aside from backtracking on constituent assembly, Villafuerte also said he would oppose the constitutional convention option, saying this would overburden the Commission on Elections (Comelec) because its proponents want the election of constitutional convention con delegates to coincide with the 2010 elections. "It's difficult enough for the Comelec to proceed with the automation of the national and local elections," Villafuerte said, adding that including the election of delegates to the 2010 national elections would only further confuse voters. When asked if he expects other House members to follow his move, Villafuerte said, "Of course, of course. There are many." Earlier in the day, three members of Kampi - Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, and Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. - said they would not withdraw their signatures from HR 1109 despite Villafuerte's retreat. But Villafuerte said a "silent" majority of Kampi members are "very happy" that he has spoken up about his dismay over the direction of Charter change in the House. He said members of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party would meet next week to tackle the issue. In a separate press conference, Nograles stood by his HR 737 and dared anyone opposing the method it is taking to bring the matter before the Supreme Court. "The majority leader and chair of the Rules has decided that my Cha-cha resolution 737 will follow the House rules which state that any amendment proposal must follow the legislative route. That's found in our House rules approved by all the members since the 8th Congress, again and again, in every Congress until now. It's not my rule. It's not his rule either," he said. Nogales also said Villafuerte is entitled to his own opinion. "[Villafuerte] and I have so many differences of opinion in so many things and that's why I would want the issues voted on the floor because it's like an irresistible force against an immovable object. He thinks I am wrong. I think I am right," Nograles said. The House leader said he has yet to find out what the consequences of Villafuerte's move are, but said he does not think Villafuerte's proposal would affect the pending Kampi-Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) merger. "It's only a difference of legal opinion, nothing personal," he said. Nograles and Villafuerte were the presidents of Lakas-CMD and Kampi, respectively. They quit their posts recently to allow the unification committee under presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio to facilitate the merger of the two parties in preparation for the 2010 national elections. - GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT