Six party-list lawmakers who are collectively known as the "progressive bloc" in the House of Representatives yesterday spearheaded the campaign against the "no-el" (no election) proposal by filing a resolution rejecting moves to scrap the 2007 elections.
Titled "A Resolution Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives to Reject Moves to Cancel the Local and National Elections in 2007," the resolution was authored by Representatives Teodoro Casiño, Satur Ocampo and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis, and Liza Maza of Gabriela Women's Party. It is in consonance with House Resolution 895 the group also filed September last year against Charter change.
The anti-no-el resolution has the backing of the House minority bloc, with 16 of its members also signed as co-authors, including Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora. The group vowed to get more signatures in the coming days.
The progressive bloc, meantime, vowed to block all moves to perpetuate Mrs. Arroyo and her allies' terms of office.
"It cannot be helped that the people consider the ploy as sinister, malevolent and conspirational because it only seeks to ensure that the incumbent President cannot be impeached in a House of Representatives dominated by her allies," the House resolution stated. (Edmer F. Panesa)
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