House committee rejects proposal to scrap 2007 polls

First posted 02:19pm (Mla time) Jan 31, 2006
By Maila Ager
INQ7.net

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A COMMITTEE at the House of Representatives tasked to deliberate on the proposed changes in the Constitution has agreed to reject a recommendation to scrap the 2007 elections.
The committee on constitutional amendments headed by Cagayan de Oro Representative Constantino Jaraula also adopted a motion rejecting any proposal to extend the term of offices of government officials under a new Constitution.

"In order to allay any speculation that one of the hidden agenda here is the cancellation of the 2007 election, I move that at this early stage we make it very clear that we abhor and renounce the suggestion to cancel the 2007 election. So my motion is to delete or reject any reference, suggestion to the cancellation of the 2007 election," said Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez, an opposition
member.

Makati Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr. amended Golez's motion by proposing to reject any term extension for all elected officials as well as raising the retirement age
for judges and justices.

Locsin said he suspected that a proposal to raise the retirement age of judges and justices to 75 from 70 was meant to get the support of the Supreme Court on the proposed changes in the Constitution.

Voting 3-14, Golez's motion was adopted by the committee while Locsin's amendment was unanimously approved by its members.

Those who voted against Golez's motion were Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Cagas, Batangas Representative Victoria Reyes, and Leyte Representative Carmen Cari.

"At least it's now universal. There's no implicit bribe to any official that may color their judgment, No election, no extension of term of elected officials, no extension of tenure of judges by raising the retirement age," Locsin said of the voting.

"It sends a very strong signal that any implicit bribe is repulsive and abhorrent," he added.

Speaking to reporters after the voting, Jaraula said the agreement was "binding" only in the committee as this could be "reversed" or "modified" in the plenary.

But in the committee level, any discussion or proposal pertaining to the cancellation of the election would no longer be entertained, Jaraula said.

Emotions ran high at the start of the hearing when pro-opposition members objected to what they viewed as the alleged railroading of the committee on the issue.

The opposition group lost twice in the voting when Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay moved to stop questions on technicalities and proceeded with the formal deliberations, and the committee adopted a motion by Cagas to substitute the working draft proposal with another set of amendments.

Akbayan Representative Loretta Anne Rosales, Gabriela Women's Partylist Representative Liza Maza, and Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo cried foul on how the pro-administration congressmen were allegedly using their number to manipulate the proceedings.

"There's a tyranny of numbers going on here. I object to this procedure," Rosales said.

"Ginagawa nyo kaming mga tanga dito [You are making us idiots here]. This is highly irregular. Why are you doing this?" Maza lamented.