Malacanang allies in the House of Representatives last night cut short plenary debates on House Resolution 1109 when they adopted the resolution seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly for the purpose of amending the 1987 Constitution.
 
Amidst angry protests against the glaring bid to railroad approval of the measure, the majority bloc sought voting on the measure.
 
Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong declared the motion carried through a strong “ayes” vote.
 
Opposition solons aired fears that the adoption of HR 1109 will pave the way for a "no elections" scenario in 2010 while its proponents were optimistic that it would prod Supreme Court to rule on constitutional quesitons about Charter change which are heretofore unresolved and are used in blocking efforts to upgrade the 22 year old Constitution.

Ironically, it was opposition stalwart Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen who cited the rule on cloture and moved for termination of plenary debates barely five hours after floor deliberations were launched through four sponsorship speeches endorsing adoption of HR 1109.
 
HR 1109 is entitled “A Resolution Calling Upon the Members of Congress to Convene for the Purpose of Considering Proposals to Amend or Revise the Constitution, upon a vote of three fourths of all members of Congress.”
 
Of the 13 lawmakers who listed their names to interpellate the sponsors, only five were given the chance to debate with pro-Charter change proponents headed by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment.
 
Interpellators allowed to raise questions on the issue were Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Deputy Minority Leader Satur Ocampo, Deputy Minority Leader Roilo Golez (Independent, Paranaque City0; Reps. Liza Maza, (Gabriela) and Teofisto Guingona III (NP, Bukidnon).
 
In moving to terminate floor debates, Dilangalen cited Rule 53 which upholds a motion for termination after at least two speeches for and one against  have been acknowledged on the floor.
 
Dilangalen took the floor immediately after Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III rose to interpellate Ortega but instead delivered a speech accusing the Arroyo government of sponsoring the Charter change bid in the Lower House to perpetuate corruption in the government.
 
“I believe in the rule of majority but this is tyranny,” declared Deputy Minority Leader Darlene Antonino-Custodio as she deplored Ortega and majority solons for reneging on their commitment to allow extensive floor discussion of HR 1109.
 
Golez  issued a strong appeal for a return to plenary debates only to receive a resounding rejection from Datumanong.
 
“If they are going to renege on a minor pledge that we will discuss this extensively on the floor, what more of this bigger pledge that elections will be held in 2010?” decried Golez.
 
Under HR 1109 it was “pledged and covenanted” by its proponents that the move to amend the Constitution should not result in extending the term of office of the incumbent president, vice president and other elective officials whose term of office expire in 2010.
 
Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla objected to the Dilangalen motion, pointing out that the presiding officer and the majority “twisted” the interpretation of the cloture provision as stated in Rule 53.
 
Padilla pointed out that interpellations cannot be considered as speeches against Committee Report 2098 which endorsed the adoption of HR 1109.
 
“But today we violated Section 53. We twisted our interpretation of section 53.  This is the worst Congress in the annals of legislative history,” Padilla stated.

Individual objections to the motion to adopt HR 1109 were registered by Reps. Teodoro Casino (Bayan Muna); Joel Villanueva (CIBAC); Leonardo Montemayor (ABA-Ako); Walden Bello (Akbayan); Rufus Rodriguez (PMP, Cagayan de Oro City); Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis); Joel Maglunsod (Anakpawis) and Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna).

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See also:

• Con-ass illegal – Enrile
• Melo: Elections assured even with Cha-cha