Stop Con-Ass, Defend Democracy!

We, the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), are outraged by the shameless railroading of House Resolution No. 1109, which would empower Congress to convene as a constituent assembly (Con-ass) with the members of the two houses of Congress voting jointly instead of separately. It effectively paves the way for a Con-ass without the participation of the Senate.

We call on all citizens and civil society organizations to express their condemnation of the midnight approval of HR 1109 and the planned Con-ass. Let us fight the relentless attempts of this Administration to perpetuate its hold on power! Let us defend democracy!

We, the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), are outraged by the shameless railroading of House Resolution No. 1109, which would empower Congress to convene as a constituent assembly (Con-ass) with the members of the two houses of Congress voting jointly instead of separately. It effectively paves the way for a Con-ass without the participation of the Senate.

In its brazen disregard of the constitution, the rules of the House, and the basic principles of fair play and due process, the House of Representatives (HoR) hurriedly approved HR 1109 in the middle of the night of June 2, 2009 without extensive discussion. The House leadership rushed the approval of HR 1109 at the committee level saying that the measure would be best discussed in the plenary session and promising congresspersons that a thorough discussion would take place there. However, after just one session day lasting only around 4 hours of plenary discussion, the Administration allies in the House cut short the discussion and rammed through the approval of HR 1109.

Why the rush? It is apparent that this is part of the unceasing efforts of the Administration, started as early as 2006, to change the constitution in order to extend their hold on power and to protect their own self-interests. House Speaker Prospero Nograles has admitted that this push to approve HR 1109 was discussed and approved in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the official merger of the LAKAS-CMD and KAMPI parties last Thursday, May 28, 2009, less than a week ago.

The railroading of HR 1109 again shows that the Administration and its congresspersons cannot be trusted to keep their word – not now and not when they convene as a Con-ass to decide on changes to the 1987 Constitution.

We call on all citizens and civil society organizations to express their condemnation of the midnight approval of HR 1109 and the planned Con-ass. Let us fight the relentless attempts of this Administration to perpetuate its hold on power! Let us defend democracy!