MANILA, Philippines – Amid widespread opposition to Charter change, the House of Representatives under Speaker Prospero Nograles’ leadership has remained “firm and strong,” according to Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo.
The Presidential son also assured Nograles that there would be no change in the chamber’s leadership.
“The (post of Speaker) is very firm and very strong. I can say that I support him 1,000 percent,” Arroyo told reporters at the Lakas-Kampi-CMD briefing in Quezon City recently.
The Arroyos’ support for the House leader, which includes Mikey’s brother Dato of Camarines Sur and uncle Iggy of Negros Occidental, is crucial in the chamber.
In Feb. 2008, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. was ousted after the Arroyos withdrew support from him.
Nograles had since denied they were out to extend their terms, and insisted that any changes in the 1987 Constitution, including a shift to a parliamentary or federalist form of government, would take place only after Mrs. Arroyo steps down in June 2010.
“It will all happen – if it will happen – in the (next) 15th Congress,” Nograles told the STAR.
The best argument against term extension is the stringent three-fourths vote requirement in amending the Constitution, the Speaker added.
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo earlier warned Nograles that he might be ousted from the chamber’s leadership if he decides to convene the House into a constituent assembly without the Senate’s participation.
Ocampo said the 30-man opposition bloc might be forced to heed the people’s clamor against Charter change and initiate a change in the House leadership.
“If the protests intensify, it would not be far-fetched for the minority to lead a mutiny against the House leadership,” the deputy minority leader said in a statement, a veiled threat to the Nograles leadership.
Ocampo said the anti-Charter change sentiment might not be limited to opposition lawmakers after all.
Stalwarts of political parties allied with the administration have warned that they will withdraw support from the coalition if push comes to shove.
“Given the massive and widespread protests, the pro-administration congressmen might not risk being identified with something as revolting as con-ass. Just to save face, they might even support a move to declare all seats vacant,” he said.
But Nograles, who has survived a few ouster attempts, downplayed such threats.
“Ocampo has always rebelled against administration measures so the threat is nothing new. It’s not even news,” Nograles said.
Ocampo said that when Congress resumes session on July 27, the minority would “immediately oppose the convening of a constituent assembly.”
“Given the widespread outrage, it is still possible for a majority of our congressmen to have second thoughts about supporting GMA. If our colleagues see hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets, I’m sure they will realize their folly,” Ocampo added.
Ocampo’s newly-formed core group Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) – which counts as members leftist groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and Kabataan – said they would use the protests to persuade their House colleagues to abandon con-ass.
“Remember, majority of the congressmen decided to hide behind a viva voce vote in approving HR 1109 precisely because they knew there would be a political backlash. Now that the anger is spilling out to the streets, it would be to their and the country’s best interest to side with the minority in preventing HR 1109 from ever being implemented,” he said.