For once bicam panel agrees… to throw out JoeCon – Malaya 12.06.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

AFTER bickering on many trivial issues, the congressional bicameral body rushing ratification of the new automated elections law yesterday finally reached a "breakthrough" by agreeing to throw out "observer" Jose Concepcion Jr. from the body’s deliberations.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, senior bicameral member, said Concepcion, chair of the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), should not be participating in the discussions or sitting in on deliberations.

Enrile said his presence violates bicameral panel rules and protocol.

"Why do we have observers here? With respect to Mr. Concepcion, this is a bicameral session, not a committee hearing. Only members of Congress are supposed to be here," Enrile said.

Concepcion had been participating in bicameral discussions since these started last week, mostly by answering questions from panel members. It was his fourth time to attend the bicameral conference yesterday.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and Senate contingent head, did not pose any objection to Enrile’s motion, along with Senators Ralph Recto and Sergio Osmeña, and Representatives Rolex Suplico, Alan Peter Cayetano, Arthur Defensor, and Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., head of the House contingent.

"So may I be excused?" Concepcion asked the body before sitting with the audience.

In an interview, Concepcion said he was invited as an observer.

"Senator Gordon invited me and, by extension, by the bicameral committee. This is my fourth time," he said.

Concepcion said he held no grudge against Enrile.

"No, no. I accept everything that they say. I just want to ensure that the votes of the Filipino people are protected," Concepcion said.

Concepcion said Namfrel was worried that since only 5 percent of the polling places are to be automated next year, this means that 95 percent of the votes could be rigged or tampered with unless safeguards are in place.

Before Concepcion’s expulsion from the bicameral session, senators and congressmen were debating on whether to allow the taking of photographs of election returns. After discussions, panel members agreed.

Osmeña said the acquisition of digital cameras should be shouldered by government as it is the obligation of the state to secure the votes of the opposition.

Enrile said the obligation should fall on political parties.

The bicameral body on Monday also agreed to withdraw the proposal to expand the allotted airtime for candidates running in the May 2007 polls.

"Tinanggal na namin yun, ayaw ng mga congressmen," Gordon said Monday.

The proposal to lengthen TV and radio exposure of candidates was strongly opposed by party-list lawmakers who fear this could put them at a disadvantage.

But Recto resurrected the debates on the proposal and pushed for its reconsideration.

The original proposal was to increase to 180 minutes from 60 to 120 minutes the allowable airtime for national candidates availing of political advertisement.