Lawmakers seek 5-year term without re-election

Besides prolonging their stay in office by six months, President Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives who are bent on amending the Constitution want to lengthen their term from the present three years to five years.

The five-year term is one of several "simplified proposals for amendments" that a seven-member House panel has submitted to Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

De Venecia formed the panel and asked it to come up with Charter change (Cha-cha) proposals.

It is headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula, chairman of the House constitutional amendments committee. Its members are Representatives Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Edcel Lagman of Albay, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of Tarlac, Jesus Crispin Remulla of Cavite, and Lawrence Wacnang of Kalinga.

Its proposals are expected to be taken up on Tuesday, when congressmen begin tackling Cha-cha.

Under the Jaraula panel’s suggestions, the present members of the Senate and the House, plus Vice President Noli de Castro, would automatically compose the first interim unicameral parliament that would come into existence upon the ratification of the proposed amendments.

Next year’s combined congressional-local elections would be postponed by six months, from the second Monday of May to the second Monday of November.

This will extend the tenure of the present members of Congress, whose terms of office are expiring on June 30, 2007, by six months.

Those elected in November next year would make up the second interim parliament and hold office until June 30, 2010. Thus, while members of the first interim parliament would have a six-month extension, those of the second interim parliament would have a six-month term reduction.

The election for members of the regular parliament would be held on the second Monday of May 2010. It is members of the regular parliament who would have a longer term of five years.

Another "simplified" Cha-cha proposal would abolish the present term limits for elective officials. This means that the present members of Congress can stay in office until they die.

The Constitution limits congressmen to three, three-year terms for a total of nine years, and senators to two, six-year terms for a total of 12 years.

Charter framers included such restrictions as a way of dismantling political dynasties. However, politicians found a way of going around the prohibition by fielding their wives, sons or daughters as their successors.

More than 60 congressmen and five senators are no longer qualified to run for their posts in May 2007, unless the House succeeds in amending the Charter.

The Jaraula panel’s proposals would also allow President Arroyo to exercise undiminished powers as head of state and head of government. Despite the planned shift to the parliamentary system, Cha-cha would allow her to stay on until her term expires on June 30, 2010.

There would be an interim prime minister elected by the interim parliament. The interim prime minister would exercise powers that Mrs. Arroyo would choose to delegate to him.

The President would continue to appoint members of the Cabinet, 70 percent of whom would come from the interim parliament.

Leaders of the Catholic Church have described the proposed amendments as "self-serving."

In a related development, 14 Metro Manila congressmen opposed yesterday their colleagues’ plan to postpone next May’s elections.

In a joint statement, they said the "recent developments in Congress have made us reassess the country’s present situation and it is our stern belief that moves to amend the Constitution should not cause further divisiveness throughout the nation."

"It is incumbent upon us, public servants in the House of Representatives, to allay the fears of the different sectors claiming Charter change is being done to protect self-interests and to perpetuate ourselves in power. The sovereign will of the people will be respected and shall prevail," they said.

Those who signed the statement were Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong, Bobbit Carlos of Valenzuela, Nanette Daza and Annie Susano of Quezon City, Robert Jaworski Jr. of Pasig, Bienvenido Abante, Jaime Lopez, Joey Hizon, Banzai Nieva, and Miles Roces of Manila, Eduardo Zialcita of Parañaque, Del de Guzman of Marikina, Connie Dy of Pasay, and Federico Sandoval II of Malabon-Navotas.

They are members of the majority bloc in the House and have been supporting Cha-cha. They did not say if they would vote against it.