‘Fearing JDV plot, GMA dumped PI’ - Impeach provision scared Mike - Malaya 10.30.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
FEARING a "coup" by Speaker Jose de Venecia, it was President Arroyo who dumped at the last-minute the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution by sending out word she would not be averse to a Supreme Court ruling against the petition of Sigaw ng Bayan and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, a source said yesterday.
The source said the message was relayed through the Villaraza and Angangco law office which counts Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as founding members.
Carpio wrote the Oct. 25 ruling which found the people’s initiative campaign constitutionally infirm for being misleading and deceptive. The SC vote was 8-7.
The source said the turnaround of the President and Mike Arroyo was prompted by the inclusion of a provision in the proposed shift to a parliamentary system, which would allow the legislature, expected to be controlled by De Venecia, to impeach the President during the transition period to 2010.
De Venecia’s Cha-cha blueprint provides that senators who have up to 2010 will serve their remaining term until 2010.
The same provision applies to President Arroyo who will continue to serve as president until 2010 "unless impeached by the Parliament."
The source said Mr. Arroyo was the first to realize the threat posed by the impeachment provision.
"Iyan kasi ang nakalagay sa isinumite ng proponents ng PI sa Comelec at kasama sa referendum. Nagkalaglagan sila. Pumalag na ang Malacañang," said the source who is known to be close to the President although he does not hold any office.
The source said when the President failed to get a firm assurance from De Venecia and people’s initiative proponents that the "impeach clause" would not apply to her, the President discreetly ordered a pullout of support while continuing to publicly endorse the proposal.
This was when the First Gentleman went to work, the source said.
He said De Venecia suspects that the so-called The Firm used its influence to swing the votes against people’s initiative.
An aide close to De Venecia confirmed such suspicion yesterday.
CABINET WAR BREWING?
The source also said there is a brewing Cabinet war between the "De Venecia boys," namely Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, on one side, and Cruz and presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, on the other.
"Matindi ang pulitika ngayon. Ibang klase ang bakbakan. Sila-sila ang nag-aaway," the source said.
Cruz said over the weekend that three Cabinet members are out to remove him for his lukewarm support to the people’s initiative drive.
The source said Gonzalez got a mouthful from the President the other day when she called him up from China and told him to stop badmouthing Cruz.
Claudio expressed doubt that Cruz would be removed from the Cabinet.
"Regardless of differences of opinion, I doubt very much if anybody within the Cabinet would move for the ouster of a colleague because of what happened to people’s initiative. That judgment is completely up to the President. I don’t believe changes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision is warranted," he said.
Claudio said he was aware of Cruz’ position on the people’s initiative.
‘NOTHING WRONG’
He said Cruz never publicly campaigned against the people’s initiative, even if he had aired his sentiments against it during Cabinet discussions.
"In small circles within the Cabinet and with me, Secretary Cruz did speak about his disagreement with people’s initiative as a method for amending the Constitution. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. His advice and candidness, as long as they are confined within the Cabinet, are valued as always," he said.
"I am not aware of an instance where he publicly campaigned against the people’s initiative or tried to subvert its chances of success particularly in the Supreme Court. If he did, ibang usapan na yun," he added.
Claudio said the administration has not entirely given up on Cha-cha.
"The narrow defeat of people’s initiative in the Supreme Court does not diminish the urgency and righteousness of political reforms through Charter change. The final fate of charter change through people’s initiative or constituent assembly will probably be determined by the time Congress goes into Christmas recess," he said.
He said if the constitutional hurdles would not be overcome by then, the administration would go on a "formal, open and aggressive" preparation for the May 2007 elections. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
FEARING a "coup" by Speaker Jose de Venecia, it was President Arroyo who dumped at the last-minute the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution by sending out word she would not be averse to a Supreme Court ruling against the petition of Sigaw ng Bayan and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, a source said yesterday.
The source said the message was relayed through the Villaraza and Angangco law office which counts Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as founding members.
Carpio wrote the Oct. 25 ruling which found the people’s initiative campaign constitutionally infirm for being misleading and deceptive. The SC vote was 8-7.
The source said the turnaround of the President and Mike Arroyo was prompted by the inclusion of a provision in the proposed shift to a parliamentary system, which would allow the legislature, expected to be controlled by De Venecia, to impeach the President during the transition period to 2010.
De Venecia’s Cha-cha blueprint provides that senators who have up to 2010 will serve their remaining term until 2010.
The same provision applies to President Arroyo who will continue to serve as president until 2010 "unless impeached by the Parliament."
The source said Mr. Arroyo was the first to realize the threat posed by the impeachment provision.
"Iyan kasi ang nakalagay sa isinumite ng proponents ng PI sa Comelec at kasama sa referendum. Nagkalaglagan sila. Pumalag na ang Malacañang," said the source who is known to be close to the President although he does not hold any office.
The source said when the President failed to get a firm assurance from De Venecia and people’s initiative proponents that the "impeach clause" would not apply to her, the President discreetly ordered a pullout of support while continuing to publicly endorse the proposal.
This was when the First Gentleman went to work, the source said.
He said De Venecia suspects that the so-called The Firm used its influence to swing the votes against people’s initiative.
An aide close to De Venecia confirmed such suspicion yesterday.
CABINET WAR BREWING?
The source also said there is a brewing Cabinet war between the "De Venecia boys," namely Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, on one side, and Cruz and presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, on the other.
"Matindi ang pulitika ngayon. Ibang klase ang bakbakan. Sila-sila ang nag-aaway," the source said.
Cruz said over the weekend that three Cabinet members are out to remove him for his lukewarm support to the people’s initiative drive.
The source said Gonzalez got a mouthful from the President the other day when she called him up from China and told him to stop badmouthing Cruz.
Claudio expressed doubt that Cruz would be removed from the Cabinet.
"Regardless of differences of opinion, I doubt very much if anybody within the Cabinet would move for the ouster of a colleague because of what happened to people’s initiative. That judgment is completely up to the President. I don’t believe changes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision is warranted," he said.
Claudio said he was aware of Cruz’ position on the people’s initiative.
‘NOTHING WRONG’
He said Cruz never publicly campaigned against the people’s initiative, even if he had aired his sentiments against it during Cabinet discussions.
"In small circles within the Cabinet and with me, Secretary Cruz did speak about his disagreement with people’s initiative as a method for amending the Constitution. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. His advice and candidness, as long as they are confined within the Cabinet, are valued as always," he said.
"I am not aware of an instance where he publicly campaigned against the people’s initiative or tried to subvert its chances of success particularly in the Supreme Court. If he did, ibang usapan na yun," he added.
Claudio said the administration has not entirely given up on Cha-cha.
"The narrow defeat of people’s initiative in the Supreme Court does not diminish the urgency and righteousness of political reforms through Charter change. The final fate of charter change through people’s initiative or constituent assembly will probably be determined by the time Congress goes into Christmas recess," he said.
He said if the constitutional hurdles would not be overcome by then, the administration would go on a "formal, open and aggressive" preparation for the May 2007 elections. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
posted by brodkaster43 at Lunes, Oktubre 30, 2006
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