After SC ruling dismissing Lozano, Biraogo petitions, Arroyo and allies to force situation, solon warns

Published on June 16, 2009

After the Supreme Court’s ruling junking the petitions seeking to nullify House Resolution (HR) 1109 calling for a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to amend the charter even without the Senate, a militant lawmaker called on the people to remain vigilant saying “this will surely incite Ms Arroyo’s allies to force the situation and convene her self-serving constituent assembly.”

In a unanimous decision penned by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the High Tribunal dismissed the petitions filed by lawyers Oliver Lozano and Louis Biraogo for being premature.

“After the SC’s favorable ruling, Ms Arroyo and her minions will be more aggressive and desperate to convene a fake constituent assembly and perpetuate themselves in power. The people should not let their guard down,” says Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano.

Mariano said that “aside from creating a so-called ‘justiciable cause,’ the Arroyo regime’s objective is to get the blessings of the court.”

“We urge Speaker (Prospero) Nograles to stop this ‘con-ass madness’”, the militant lawmaker said.

Earlier, Mariano said that Nograles is using every trick in the book to deceive the people into the Arroyo administration’s shameless constituent assembly scheme.

Mariano issued the statement after Nograles exploited Senator Nene Pimentel’s federalism advocacy just to woo the Senate into joining the constituent assembly planned to be convened after President Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address.

“Riding on Senator Pimentel’s federalism crusade shows that Speaker Nograles is using every trick in the book just to satisfy Ms Arroyo’s desire to perpetuate in power. It surely won’t fly,” says Mariano.

Mariano said “the people are not as stupid as Ms Arroyo’s political lieutenants.”

“All these political machinations form part of the Arroyo administration’s desperate attempt to strengthen its grip to power,” the militant lawmaker said.

The Anakpawis lawmaker warned the House leadership of their planned convening of a bogus constituent assembly after Ms Arroyo’s SONA.

Mariano laughed off at Nograles’ assurance that people “need not worry that amendments would be railroaded because constitutional revisions like lifting of term limits would require a three-fourths vote”.

He stressed that the record of Arroyo’s minions in the House in the four impeachment cases and major policy issues did not support such assurance.

“The House leadership must stop undermining the people’s intelligence and capabilities with arrogance and might. Bigger and more widespread protest actions nationwide will greet this Palace-organized and fake constituent assembly,” says Mariano. #

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