Speaker JdV can be the next generation’s hero

Pangasinan’s political icon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, has doggedly pursued the shift from the presidential-bicameral system to a parliament-unicameral system via a Constituent Assembly over the past year, and it has not seen the light of day and it does seem it never will, at least not on his terms. 

This is both sad and heartening. It’s sad because the Constitution definitely needs to be amended particularly those that impact on economy, and heartening because our senators have withstood the rush of the express train to spare the country from another likely “Hello Garci” episode.

Then we see the other enterprising minions of President Gloria Arroyo led by Sigaw ng Bayan, adamant in peddling a “People’s Initiative”, claiming to have the sovereign voice of the people after buying off signatures for their “People’s Initiative”. They claim that the 10 million signatures they have solicited are enough to compel the Supreme Court to allow the process to proceed, never mind that the Constitution and jurisprudence dictate that there must be an enabling law for a People’s Initiative to prosper. But even assuming that there is such an enabling law, the Constitution prescribes that only the amendment of certain provisions of the constitution can be validated through a People’s Initiative and not the revision of the constitution as to change the system of government. It’s a dead-end ahead.

But there is President Gloria Arroyo who has found in the twin moves to amend the charter a useful tact to effectively derail moves seeking her ouster through impeachment. Going by her own statements, she’s out to amend the charter by hook or by crook – by Con-Ass or by People’s Initiative. Either way suits her fine as long as she can have a shift in the system that will insulate her from impeachment, ensure her longer stay in power and to protect her from certain legal suits arising from her governance.

Recent developments should tell Speaker de Venecia that his dream of a shift to a parliamentary system is a goner for as long as he insists on Constituent Assembly, and the People’s Initiative given what it is today, does not stand a chinaman’s chance to get it done. (If Mr. de Venecia was confident about the People’s initiative, he would have dropped the Con-Ass wild card a long time ago, but he didn’t).

But he need not despair. He can still see his dream for the country come true. All it takes is for him to accept the reality and shift tactics by finally recommending the holding of a Constitutional Convention, whose members can be elected during the 2007 elections.

This recommendation for a Constitutional Convention will not contradict his earlier argument for Con-Ass, that it would save the country millions in election costs. Consistent with his position, the 2007 elections will provide the country that opportunity to hold the elections at no monumental costs to the government.

Mr. Speaker, seize the hour now. Recommend the holding of a constitutional convention as prescribed by our constitution and save the day for our country. Forget about Mrs. Arroyo’s agenda. And yes, forget about the prospect of being crowned a prime minister because Mrs. Arroyo will not allow it to happen if she can help it. 

Be the next generation’s hero. Do it now for today’s children, our children.    

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