An appeal to the Pangasinan Congressmen

To Rep. Arthur Celeste (1st District), Rep. Amado Espino Jr. (2nd District), Rep. Generoso Tulagan (3rd District), Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. (4th District), Rep. Mark Cojuangco (5th District), and Rep. Conrado Estrella III (6th District):

There is no doubt in the minds of a good majority of Pangasinenses that our Constitution needs to be amended. There are provisions in the present charter that restrains our people and government, preventing us from moving forward in step with global economic trends. Consequently, the pressure to keep the nation financially sound and  healthy lies on our people’s capability alone to create jobs, pay taxes and shore up support for our development, resulting not only in our government depending heavily on foreign loans but compelling  our people to seek employment overseas.

Yes, our people support your vision to amend the charter. But what our people will not support is your plot to convene a Constituent Assembly to serve mainly your political agenda at all costs to the extent of challenging what our present Constitution mandates — going it alone without the Senate.

Your motives for the Con-ASS are already suspect given the range of alibis you have presented to our people. From the argument to save the country billions of pesos, you and your peers in the supercilious majority have turned to proposing a list of self-serving incentives to seduce the senators to join you in your evil plot, including the postponement of the 2007 elections as if the people had no choice over the matter. Your support for the latest set of arguments unmasked your disguised intention to manipulate the amendment of the charter for your personal benefit.

Our people will only support a Constitutional Convention, composed of learned men and women who shall be tasked solely to study, debate and recommend a new set of provisions for our charter. They don’t want congressmen and senators with vested interests who are already tasked with passing laws and busy pleading for and dispensing their pork barrel to assume this all too important task as a mere add-on to their functions, and to complete the rout of the people.

We appeal to you to close ranks and stop the Con-ASS madness. If the framing of a relevant and modern Constitution is all that truly motivates you, then you should not have any problem doing it with our people the Con-Con way. But by insisting on your Con-ASS, you will soon see your constituents rising to wage a campaign against you and your family.

       Let’s amend the Constitution together, with our elected delegates in place.

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