Gordon warns on ‘forced Constitution’

Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday called on Filipinos to be vigilant in the light of what he termed as a "devious plot to ram a new Constitution down the collective throats of the Filipino people."


Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revisions of Codes and Laws, issued the warning amid reports that the House of Representatives plans to adopt the recommendation of the Consultative Commission, whose members were all appointed by President Arroyo, to shift to a parliamentary-unicameral system and force a vote on the new Constitution.

The senator predicted that the House would simply adopt the report of the Consultative Commission and either bypass the Senate or insist that the Senate act upon it, which will lead to a constitutional crisis.

"Ilegal yung proseso, pero sasabihin lang na andyan na ’yan, pinagkagastusan na (The process is illegal, but they will just say, it’s already there, money has already been spent), so let’s just vote on it. It’s a fait accompli," Gordon said.

He cited allegations that House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. or even former President Fidel Ramos were backing this move in the hope of becoming prime minister. He also said that political horse-trading involving mayors, governors, and even members of Congress whose terms are about to expire is also a definite possibility.

"Papangakuan nila ang mga mayor, congressman, governor at iba pang local officials na wala ng gastos sa susunod na eleksyon kung parliamentary na at lahat makikinabang (They will promise the local officials that they won’t have to spend money for reelection if the parliamentary system is adopted and everybody will benefit)," said Gordon