Con ASS

THE leadership of the House of Representatives decided in a majority caucus on Tuesday to approve the controversial proposal for the convening of a constituent assembly (con-ass) even without the participation of senators. However, House Speaker Prospero Nograles admitted that they are at a loss on whether they can convene into a constituent assembly immediately after approving House Resolution (HR) 1109. “I do not know if we can convene immediately even if the resolution is approved today. But definitely, we would tackle the resolution at the plenary today [Tuesday] and hopefully approve it,” Nograles said. The House speaker advised reporters to stay until 11 p.m. on Tuesday, saying the House will try to approve the measure through a majority vote after 211 out of 265 members responded to the roll call at 4:30 in the afternoon. “I advise you to stay until 11 p.m. It’s 1109 all the way,” Nograles told reporters, referring to the House bill, HR 1109, calling for the convening of Congress into a “ConAss” to propose amendments to the Constitution upon a vote of “three-fourths of all members of Congress.” Senators, however, shrugged off House threats to railroad moves to convene Congress as “ConAss” even without the Senate, saying it is not likely to prosper for lack of genuine support from the people. “No senator will join that (ConAss),” Sen. Joker Arroyo said, recalling a resolution signed by all 23 senators rejecting the controversial proposal, initiated but later abandoned by Rep. Luis Villafuerte, and which Senator Arroyo dismissed as just a ploy to bring the issue before the Supreme Court. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel warned that the move could backfire on the pro-ConAss Congressmen. “Let them do their worst and they will reap the whirlwind of opprobrium and condemnation of the people,” Pimentel said. The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments had voted 22-10 on Monday to approve the motion of Puwersa ng Masa Rep. Didagen Dilangalen of Maguindanao to send HR 1109 to the plenary for debates. Kampi Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur drafted HR 1109 but withdrew his support after accusing Nograles of derailing its passage in favor of the latter’s HR’s 737. Nograles’ HR 737, still pending in the plenary, is pushing for amendments in the economic provisions of the Constitution—among others, to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of lands in the country. In filing 1109, Villafuerte had hoped to create a legal issue that would force the Supreme Court to decide whether or not Congress can meet and vote jointly or separately in proposing any amendment to the charter, since majority of senators have consistently opposed Charter change. (With Butch Fernandez) Source : http://businessmirror.com.ph