EDITORIAL

Rule 105 Abolition Is Self Serving

"The end cannot justify the means". This is a long established principle and highly respected.
However, the doings in the House of Representatives of the Philippines is going toward disapproval of the upper stated principle.
Believing on their superior number in the House of Representatives, the administration congressmen are rushing their way for the approval of a resolution to constitute themselves as members of the House in a constituent assembly (Con–As) to amend the constitution.
According to them, the presidential form of government has been hindering progress and development. Therefore, the administration congressmen wanted to change the form of Philippine government from presidential to parliamentary.
Last week, they have approved the amendment to their own House Rules that have long been established and followed for the last 62 years. With a vote of 161 – 25, Section 105 of House Rules was deleted. Section 105 requires congressmen to involve senators on the charter amendments proposal. Section 105 mandates the House of Representatives to follow the process for the enactment of bills or proposed laws. It requires bills approved by the House should be sent to the Senate for approval.
The House, in a sleepless sessions, approved and amended House rule to provide that cha-cha proposals maybe filed anytime by any House member and does not require bicameral consideration. This simply means, resolution regarding cha-cha amendment will not need any Senate approval. It simple means the House has abolished the Senate even before any amendment of the constitution is ever made. What an illegal and immoral act of administration congressmen!
The approval of the revision of House rule was hastily done accompanied with shouting barrage between opposition and administration congressmen. Even the audience in the gallery participated.
The amendment in the House rule was authored by Congressman Arthur Defensor of lIoilo and sponsored by Congressman Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan De Oro City.
Last December 7, the House again approved a resolution constituting the House of Representatives into a Constituent Assembly (Con–As) to amend the constitution. The (Con–As) does not mention any involvement of the members of the Senate.
Again, this simply means the administration congressmen have in effect abolished the Senate before any amendment of the constitution. The House has turned a bicameral congress into a unicameral congress. This is being done because "they have the number" devoid of reasons and concern.
On Tuesday, December 12, the House or Con–As will start discussing amendments of the constitution. Among others, it proposes to postpone the May 2007 election to November 30, 2007 and extend the congressmen’s term of office until December 31, 2007. They will convert themselves into an ad interim members of parliament. Those who will be elected on November 30, 2007 election will hold office until December 31, 2010 and those who get elected will have a five (5) year term.
These proposals, even at first look, are immoral and illegal. First, the House members will have actually applied to them and enjoy their intended amendments. Second, even if these amendments are already approved, these congressmen should not enjoy directly what they have approved such as the extension of their terms. This is self serving. They baked the cake and will eat it too. House Rule 105 deletion is self serving.
The illegal and immoral means must not be used to attain even a noble objective. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo,com