Senate To Block CHA-CHA Railroad

Senator Mar Roxas said the Senate would block any attempt to railroad Charter change, which could be used to prolong the present administration’s term.

He noted that Senate Resolution No. 473 from the 13th Congress, expressing the sense of the Senate that any vote to amend the Constitution must be done by the House and Senate voting separately, was signed by 22 senators, 16 of whom are incumbent.

“We still have 16 senators who believe that Congress must vote separately in convening a constituent assembly. The Senate can be expected to continue blocking the administration’s moves to stay in power ‘even beyond 2010,” said Roxas.

The resolution was signed by the following incumbent senators: Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel, Roxas, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Rodolfo Biazon, Ramon Revilla, Jr., Jose Ejercito Estrada, Richard Gordon, Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara, Ma. Consuelo Madrigal, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Manuel Lapid, Panfilo Lacson and Manuel Villar.

“We will not allow a con-ass to happen through the votes of just one chamber. That is a very wrong interpretation of the Constitution,” he said, referring to Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution, on “Amendments or Revisions.”

“At present, we can debate what the amendments to our Constitution ought to be. But Cha-Cha must be done after Arroyo’s term,” he said.

The Ilonggo senator said he was in favor of having any constitutional amendments done through an elected constitutional convention in 2010.

“After 2010, through a constitutional convention, we can consider changes to the Constitution,” he said.

‘Euro Generals’ Mess Might Not Rot

In Gutierrez’s Office

Senator Mar Roxas last week expressed disgust over the decision of a special police investigating team to forward to the Ombudsman’s office for further investigation the “euro generals” mess, which he said would only gather cobwebs because of the slow action of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

“Nothing will happen to the investigation of the Ombudsman into the euro generals controversy. So many cases are already pending in Gutierrez’ office because of her inaction on them,” Roxas said.

Roxas reproached Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region Police Office (CIDG-NCRPO) for defying the order of PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa to immediately file cases against ex-PNP comptroller Eliseo De La Paz and three other officials involved in the scandal.

“Versoza has ordered the filing of cases against De La Paz and the three other officials involved in the unauthorized release of the P6.9 million from the PNP intelligence fund. Why did Nerez not heed the order? Why did he forward his findings to the Ombudsman? I am puzzled by his decision,” he said.

Roxas urged the police chief to punish Nerez for forwarding his panel’s recommendations to the Ombudsman’s office instead of directly charging De La Paz, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño, Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez before the courts.

“Nerez should be taught a lesson for defying the orders of his superior,” he added.

De La Paz was caught by Russian authorities last month with an undisclosed 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) as he was about to depart for his flight back to Manila after attending an Interpol meeting in Moscow.

An investigation by Nerez’ team showed that the money was advanced by De La Paz from the PNP’s intelligence/confidential funds, allegedly for purchase of intelligence equipment. The money was released by Pestano, Rentoy and Rodriguez without the authority of Versoza.

The Ilonggo senator said the “Euro Generals” mess may likely follow the route of other controversial cases, like the fertilizer scam involving former DA Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante and the NBN-ZTE deal exposes of Jun Lozada.

“I am sure she will only put this in the backburner similar to what she has been doing with the other controversies which threaten to drag the tenants of Mala-cañang,” he said. /MP