Eight leftist party-list congressmen yesterday declared they will boycott President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week while three senators warned that they will not take the matter sitting down should Malacañang and the House leadership renege on their statements that the joint session of the two Houses will not be used as a forum to convene a constituent assembly (con-ass).
Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela, Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod of Anakpawis and Raymond Palatino of Kabataan, in a joint statement, said they would would rather join the protest actions outside the
Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City than listen to President Arroyo’s "lies" and "illusions."
"As in all her eight previous Sonas, Gloria (Arroyo) tries to foster the illusion that the Philippines is on the verge of becoming an industrialized country, with hallucinations of faster economic growth through ambitious, unrealistic ‘growth area’ development plans, and worse, projects that offer huge chunks of our national territory for exploitation by foreign investors via Cha-cha," the lawmakers told a press conference.
Maglunsod, for his part, said "Mrs. Arroyo does not deserve an audience."
The eight militant lawmakers called on their colleagues to join then in the boycott and to finally withdraw their support to a resolution calling for the convening of Congress into a con-ass to amend the 1987 Constitution and prolong Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in power.
Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Pia Cayetano, for their part, warned that any attempt to use Congress’ reopening of sessions on July 27 will be met by strong protest, including that of staging a walkout.
"For now, I will take the Speaker’s word that he’ll be able to rein in his colleagues from forcing the joint Sona assembly into an illegal constituent assembly. I’ll hold him to his word, albeit with much skepticism. It’s my responsibility to attend Sona as a nationally elected legislator, but I’m also ready to walk out at any indication they’ll hijack it as part of my sworn duty to serve our people and protect our Constitution," Cayetano said.
Biazon is planning of doing the same, as he announced his decision to attend the proceedings on Monday, saying "the moment that anyone will try to convert the Sona into a constitutional assembly of Congress, I am going to get out of that session hall faster than the speeding bullet."
"I hope that Nograles’ assurances that there will be no con-ass at the Sona are true. As a fellow lawyer, I believe the Speaker will not allow this to happen," Escudero said.
"However, if this is another veiled attempt to calm the people, then they should prepare to meet a tidal wave of protest. To use the Sona in railroading the Cha-cha is patently illegal and blatantly immoral," he noted.
Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., however, remained skeptical as to what will really transpire, questioning Nograles’ motives as the House leader himself had also said Cha-cha is back on track and remains a priority of the House of Representatives.
Makati Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar Binay said the opposition is prepared to counter any attempt by Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional allies to convert the joint session of Congress into a con-ass.
According to him, he is unconvinced by the statement of administration lawmakers denying any plan to call for a con-ass immediately after Mrs. Arroyo delivers her Sona.
"The assurances do not sound reassuring enough for us in the opposition to relax our vigilance," he said.
"In fact, the administration has a track record of doing the opposite of what it says. Remember that Mrs. Arroyo had said in 2002 that she will not run for president, and a few months back, House allies also claimed they will not push for Con-Ass," Binay said.
He added the lawmakers are being less than honest with the public when they claimed they would not use the Sona to convene a con-ass.
Binay also described the crowd dispersal management competition held by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as an attempt to intimidate protesters on July 27.
At least 12,000 cops will be deployed during the Sona.
"The PNP should at least be credited for being more creative in sending its message to those who will join the anti-Sona rally. The event may be described as a competition, but the message is clearly intended to intimidate the opposition," he said.
In contrast, Malacañang reiterated that the President will not delve on the proposed con-ass in her Sona.
Deputy presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said Mrs. Arroyo will talk about the economy and education.
She added the Chief Executive’s Sona would not only enumerate her accomplishments but also list her priorities in her remaining months in office.
The Palace also branded as "outrageous" former Speaker Jose De Venecia’s allegations.
Presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio said De Venecia’s allegations would be an "injustice" to his fellow lawmakers and would also demean the significance of the Sona.
"The former Speaker should not unduly alarm and agitate the public about outrageous scenarios for convening a constituent assembly, which we do not believe is within the contemplation of the present House leadership and certainly not in the Palace agenda," he stressed.
Angie Rosales, Gerry Baldo, Charlie V. Manalo and Gina Peralta-Elorde
Party-list representatives, senators to boycott SONA
PARTY-LIST representatives and some senators will boycott the ninth state of the nation address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid fears that the House of Representatives majority will use the day to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution.
Party-list representatives from Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and Kabataan claimed that aside from the Charter change agenda, the SONA will only feature false accomplishments of the Arroyo administration.
"As in all her eight previous SONAs, Gloria tries to foster the illusion that the Philippines is on the verge of becoming an industrialized country, with hallucinations of faster economic growth through ambitious, unrealistic growth area development plans, and worse, projects that offer huge chunks of our national territory for exploitation by foreign investors via Charter change," they said in a joint statement yesterday.
For the same reasons, some senators also said they will skip the SONA. Among those of who will boycott it are Senators Francis N. Pangilinan, Panfilo M. Lacson, Aquilino Q. Pimentel and Manuel A. Roxas II.
Speaker and Davao City Rep. Prospero C. Nograles (1st district) denied allegations that the House majority plans on convening Congress into a constituent assembly during the opening of the third regular session and said that the President’s SONA is the only agenda for the day.
"There is no factual and/or legal basis for this unnecessary warning," he said in a text message. — Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez
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