PRESIDENT GMA has called on political allies to fully back the campaign to amend the Constitution and shift to a unicameral parliamentary government, and "there is no going back on this campaign," says a determined Speaker Jose de Venecia.
It will be full-steam ahead for Cha-cha.
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But Senate Minority Leader Nene Pimentel has said that the Constitutional Consultative Commission (Con-Com) should not duplicate the work of Congress in studying and proposing constitutional amendments.
A better justification then – for a smooth Cha-cha ball.
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Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye has announced that Executive Order 464 remains in effect but the Cabinet members are not banned from attending congressional hearings pertaining to budget.
Congressional inquiries are a curse – but the smell of money is tolerable.
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Presidential political adviser Gabby Claudio has disclosed that confidence-building measures have been taken to improve Malacañang-Congress relations blurred by EO 464 prohibiting Cabinet and top government officials from appearing in inquiries without authority from the President.
Yes, let back-channeling bring positive results.
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"I think the high emotions or passions about EO 464 are simmering down," adds Claudio.
Yes, let reason prevail in governance, not emotions nor passions.
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Related to this, a return to "maximum tolerance" has been suggested by Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes in dealing with and tempering anti-government demonstrators.
One step backward, two steps forward.
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"Angel" Reyes has pointed out that "calibrated preemptive response" appears to have created confusion as "maximum tolerance" has been the guiding policy of policemen for years.
A clear, more tolerant policy breeds greater stability?
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AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, on the other hand, has clarified that he will strictly apply the rules of engagement in dealing with destabilizers and not implement a shoot-tokill order against coup plotters and recruiters.
Shoot back only if fired upon, he says. And don’t waste bullets.
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Army Chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon has also vowed to abide by such policy although strongly warning that recruitment efforts and disinformation campaign by coup plotters will be dealt with accordingly.
The spears will spear no one, Esperon warns.
***
PNP Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao has revealed that the hunt is on for terrorists amid reports that the country could be another Jemaah Islamiyah target like Indonesia.
Bump them before they bomb us! And let’s lead normal lives!
