Roxas: Expect LP presence in June 10 rally

Expect the Liberal Party to join the protest in Makati on June 10 against the brazen acts of the administration to ram through with an unwanted charter change, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said.

"Huwag nating hayaang sipsipin ng Con-Asswang na ito ang dugo ng ating bayan. (We should not let this monster called Constituent Assembly suck the blood of our nation)," he stressed.

"Asahan ninyo kaming mga Liberal na pumanig sa taumbayan. Lalaban tayo laban sa pambabalasubas ng mga nasa poder sa ating Konstitusyon (Expect us Liberals to be on the people’s side. We will fight any and all attempts by those in power to bastardize our Constitution)," he said.

Roxas said that aside from attending the rally in Makati on June 10, the LP will also organize education and information campaigns on the issue to rally the people against the Gloria Forever agenda.

"Kailangan nating gabayan ang mga kababayan natin sa mga panahong ito na uhaw na uhaw sa kapangyarihan ang mga nasa poder (We have to guide our people in these times when those in power thirst for power)," he said.

"Gutom na ang taumbayan sa pagbabago. Ilang beses na nilang sinabi, sa pamamagitan ng mga survey, na ayaw nila sa Gloria Forever cha-cha at gusto nilang matuloy ang eleksyon (The people hunger for change. They have said many times, through the surveys, that they oppose this Gloria Forever cha-cha and want the elections to push through)," he stressed.

Public outrage over the railroaded approval of House Resolution 1109 allowing the convening of a Senate-less constituent assembly has spread throughout the country. Various groups have announced street protests to dramatize public’s rejection of House moves to amend the Charter and lift term limits, allowing Arroyo to extend her term and stay in Malacañang beyond 2010.

Roxas has sponsored Senate Resolution No. 1126, co-sponsored by Senators Benigno Aquino III and Rodolfo Biazon, urging Mrs. Arroyo to exercise her constitutional and moral duties to the public by affirming the unconstitutionality of HR 1109.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, mar roxas, noynoy aquino, pgma, philippines, pong biazon | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Pinoys can't rely on GMA promise on 2010 polls

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday said revelations that President Arroyo herself ordered the vote on the constituent assembly resolution is clear proof that Filipinos cannot rely on her word that polls will push through in 2010 as scheduled.

Roxas said the Con-ASSwang (constituent assembly) railroaded by Palace allies at the House of Representatives is too potent to be fought by any single group.

"Kelangan talaga ng panlaban sa mga aswang sa Malacanang," he said.

He added false assurance from President Arroyo that the 2010 presidential elections would push through are not enough to assuage public outrage over the unconstitutional action of her House minions.

"Kulang ang salita lamang sa Pangulong lasing na sa kapangyarihan. Alam naman nating lahat na hindi siya marunong tumupad sa kanyang mga pangako," he said, referring to the 2003 broken promise of Mrs. Arroyo that she was not running for president in the 2004 polls.

The Visayan senator said the public is waiting for a decisive act from the President: "Magpakatotoo ka, Pangulong Arroyo. Aminin mong ikaw mismo ang nag-utos na ipasa na ang Con-Asswang. O kung hindi, iutos mong ibaon na nang tuluyan ang maitim na balak na sirain ang demokrasya sa ating bayan."

Public outrage over the railroaded approval of House Resolution 1109 allowing the convening of a Senate-less constituent assembly has spread throughout the country. Various groups have announced street protests to dramatize public's rejection of House moves to amend the Charter and lift term limits, allowing President Arroyo to extend her term and stay in Malacañang beyond 2010.

Roxas has sponsored Senate Resolution No. 1126, co-sponsored by Senators Benigno Aquino III and Rodolfo Biazon, urging Mrs. Arroyo to exercise her constitutional and moral duties to the public by affirming the unconstitutionality of HR 1109.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, mar roxas, noynoy aquino, pgma, philippines, pong biazon, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas' Privilege Speech on Con-AssWang

Sa probinsiya ko, sa Capiz, kilala namin ang ASWANG. At ang pinaka-mabisang panlaban sa mga ASWANG ay bawang.

Ngayong umaga, nag-desisyon ako na isuot ang kwintas ng bawang na ito para maitaboy ang ASWANG na tinatawag na Constituent Assembly o CON-ASSwang.

Kagabi ay kitang-kita natin ang kaaswangan nila. Balak nilang amyedahan ang Saligang Batas nang hindi kasama ang Senado. Pero pinapaalala ko lang sa kanila na noong a-kinse ng Disyembre nitong nakaraang taon, ipinasa na natin dito sa Senado ang isang resolusyon na labag sa Saligang Batas ang balakin ng Kamara.

Para tumibay lalo ang loob ng Senado, pinadalhan ko din ang mga kagalang-galang na mga kasamahan dito sa Senado at sa Kongreso na buong-tapang na nilalabanan ang Con-ASSWANG na ito

Itong Cha-Cha na ito, patay na pero pilit na binubuhay pang muli. Wala nang katawan, wala nang suporta ng taumbayan, pero pilit na binubuhay muli.

Madame President, noong isang lingo, buong ngiti kayo kasama ang mahigit na dalawandaang miyembro ng Kongreso na kasapi ng Lakas-Kampi merger. Lahat nang mga bumoto pabor sa resolusyon na ipasa ang Con-ASSwang na ito ay miyembro ng iyong Partidong Lakas-Kampi.

Madam President, walang maniniwala na ang Con-ASSwang na ito ay hindi iyo. Magpakatotoo ka. Ito ay nangyari lamang dahil pinakawalan mo ang Con-ASSwang na ito. You are responsible for this plague that has befallen us.

Ilang milyong Pilipino ang nabubuhay ng wala o kulang ang kanilang gamut, pagkain at edukasyon dahil sa kasakiman sa kwarta't kapangyarihan ng mga aswang sa paligid natin? Lahat nang kalokohang ito - para sa Gloria Forever Constitution!

Pero sa lahat ng pangyayaring ito, hindi ko pababayaang sipsipin nila ng todo ang dugo ng ating taumbayan. Hindi lang bawang ang kailangan natin para labanan ang mga aswang na ito.

Kailangan nating magsama-sama ng taumbayan para labanan ang Con-ASSwang ni Gloria. Ipangako natin muli sa taumbayan na itong Gloria Forever Constitution na ito ay siguradong mamamatay at 'di na mabubuhay para sipsipin pa ang buhay ng ating bansa.

Ngayong araw na ito ay magsasampa ako ng isang resolusyon - a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate asking the President to affirm, CATEGORICALLY, that the House convening itself as a constituent assembly on its own is unconstitutional.

Nananawagan ako kay Pangulong Arroyo na magpakatotoo at patunayan sa buong bayan na hindi siya ang nasa likod nitong Con-ASSwang na ito at utusan ang kanyang mga alipores sa Kongreso na tigilan na ang kalokohang ito.

Madam President, tayuan mo ito o itakwil mo! Magpakatotoo tayo!

Thursday, June 4, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, joaquin bernas, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas dares GMA: reject, disown Senate-less "Con-AssWang"

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today vowed to thwart President Arroyo’s bid to perpetuate herself to power beyond 2010 through a Gloria Forever Constitution railroaded by her allies at the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.

The Visayan senator came to the Senate session wearing a garland of "bawang" (garlic) to scare away what he called the "Con-ASSwang" from the lower house.

"Hindi ko pababayaang sipsipin nila ng todo ang dugo ng taumbayan. Hindi lang bawang ang kailangan natin para labanan ang mga aswang na ito. Kailangan nating magsama-sama para labanan ang Con-ASSwang ni Gloria," he said in a privileged speech.

"Ngayong hapon, nag-desisyon ako na isuot ang kwintas ng bawang na ito para maitaboy ang aswang na tinatawag na Constituent Assembly o Con-ASSwang. Para tumibay lalo ang loob ng Senado, pinadalhan ko din ang mga kagalang-galang na mga kasamahan ko sa Senado at sa Kongreso na buong-tapang na nilalabanan ang Con-ASSwang na ito," he added.

Roxas also challenged President Arroyo to reject and categorically disown the illegal Con-Ass railroaded by her House allies.

"Madame President, walang maniniwala na ang Con-ASSwang na ito ay hindi iyo. Magpakatotoo ka. Ito ay nangyari lamang dahil pinakawalan mo ang Con-ASSwang na ito. You are responsible for this plague that has befallen us. Tayuan mo ito o itakwil mo!"

Roxas authored a resolution expressing the Senate’s opposition to the Senate-less Con-Ass and insisting on its unconstitutionality.

"Now, therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, to express the sense of the Senate urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to uphold her constitutional duties by rejecting House Resolution No. 1109, affirming that the House of Representatives convening as a constituent assembly independent of the Senate is patently unconstitutional and by ordering her allies in the House of Representatives to stop such blatant disrespect of constitutional processes," the resolution read.

He insisted President Arroyo has the "constitutional and moral duty" to assure the Filipino people that she is not involved in the "foolishness" of her House allies.

He stressed that "in unilaterally convening itself as a constituent assembly through House Resolution No. 1109, the House of Representatives unlawfully disregarded the bicameral nature of Congress and blatantly disregarded the Senate of the Philippines as a co-equal body in the legislative branch of the government in violation of the sacred law of the land – the 1987 Philippine Constitution."

He cited the legal maxim of ut magis valeat quam pereat and said that "a complete reading of the 1987 Constitution would readily reveal that both the Senate and House of Representatives are intended to act and vote separately in all the measures that they are required to pass upon."

He also noted the opinion of constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas that the requirement of separate voting is apparent in the bicameral character of Congress.

Senators have unanimously adopted on December 15 last year Resolution No. 154 declaring as unconstitutional any attempt by the House of Representatives to unilaterally propose amendments to or revision of the Constitution without the approval by ¾ of the Senate voting separately.

Malacañang allies at the House of Representatives railroaded the approval of House Resolution No. 1109 late Tuesday night allowing the convening of a Constituent Assembly even without the participation of the Senate to introduce amendments to or revise the Constitution.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, joaquin bernas, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas: Gloria Forever constitution will go straight to court

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said the renewed efforts in the House of the Representatives to "go solo" and ram through with the "Gloria Forever Constitution" will go straight to court.

"Diretso iyan sa korte. May tiwala ako na ang ating mga mahistrado sa Korte Suprema ay magdedesisyon nang tama (It will go straight to court. I'm confident that our Supreme Court magistrates will exercise independence and make the correct ruling on the issue)," he said, amidst speculations the high bench is controlled by the government, with majority of its justices appointed by President Arroyo.

"Hindi natin ito papayagan. Itong 'solo flight' ng House ay hindi sang-ayon sa Konstitusyon. At ayaw na ng mamamayan na lumampas ng kahit isang araw man lang ang pamumuno ni Gloria sa bansa. (We will not allow this. The House's 'solo flight' is not contemplated in the Constitution. And our people do not want Gloria to rule even a day in excess of her term)," he stressed.

The Visayan senator said any moves to amend the Constitution to extend the term of office of any public official, especially the President, will not pass in the Senate. And in the case that the House pushes through with constituent assembly on its own, he will actively join moves by the Senate to elevate the issue before the Supreme Court.

"Hindi kami sasama diyan. Baluktot na pamamaraan iyan para baguhin ang Saligang Batas sa ating bansa. Wala akong kakilalang abugado na alam ang kanyang trabaho na magsasabing legal ito (we senators will not participate in this because this is a wrong method to change the Charter. I do not know of any lawyer who knows his job and would say this is legal)," he said.

"Tinututulan ito ng ating mga kababayan. Wala itong makukuhang boto sa Senado. Hindi ito magtatagumpay (This is not acceptable to the people. This will not get any vote from the Senate. This will not succeed)," he added.

Roxas trusts that despite the machinations of the powerful and their minions to bend the law in their favor, the Filipino people would stand by the law.

"Subukan lang nilang gawin ang gusto nila, at haharapin nila ang taumbayan oras na kalikutin nila ang Saligang Batas at isangkalan ang demokrasya sa ating bansa (They could go ahead and do anything they want. But I warn them, the people will face up to them if they try to manipulate the Constitution and compromise our country's democracy)," he stressed.

Thursday, March 26, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, supreme court | 0 comments [ More ]

An inspiring video on Senator Mar Roxas' (in)famous speech

While the buzz on Senator Mar Roxas' (in)famous speech during the anti-Charter Change rally has past, here's an inspiring video which I found in Youtube.

When you watch the video, you feel the pain that our country is undergoing under the failed policies and judgements of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Can we afford for more if ever she wants to perpetuate her term?

Sunday, January 11, 2009 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, mar roxas, pgma, president | 2 comments [ More ]

Senator Mar Roxas is The EQualizer Post's Pinoy of the Year

The EQualizer Post Blog, which has been delivering strong commentaries on politics both here and abroad, together with its readers, has chosen Senator Mar Roxas as its Pinoy of the Year for 2008.

Roxas edged slightly Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio in the poll probably of the former's rage against a Gloria Forever Constitution which had him uttered "Putang ina" in an anti-Cha-Cha rally and refused to apologize about it.

As the EQ Post said:

True RAGE! We agree 100% Senator Roxas!

Read more about this at http://mav-equalizer.blogspot.com/2008/12/eq-pinoy-of-year-for-2008senator-mar.html

ORAS NA! ROXAS NA!

Saturday, December 27, 2008 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, ed panlilio, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Bloggers on Mar Roxas' expletive outburst

WARNING: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS SOME EXPLETIVE WORDS

It has been four (4) days since Senator Mar Roxas made the (in)famous speech during an anti-Cha-Cha rally in Makati.

"Putang ina" was the word that caught the attention of everyone. Was it a political stunt? I think it wasn't. It was an ordinary feeling of the Filipino disgusted on the way how Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration has continued to fool them by pushing Charter Change (Cha-Cha) for her own sake and Senator Roxas wasn't able to control those emotions. It was a rally against the Cha-Cha that Gloria's administration is pushing. Why I said it is for her own sake? She should have the balls to stop it if her people prefers Cha-Cha after 2010!

As I was blog-hopping, I read several posts about the post-reaction on the incident. Indeed, the profane language he used was justified.

As political blogger Schumey said:

... the highlight and the most controversial is the speech by Mar Roxas who verbalized the sentiments of the people by saying "putang ina". There was no other way to describe the disdain we felt and Mar Roxas got it spot on.

The Mount Balatucan Monitor has made a good point on why Roxas' curse was justified:

I don’t see any wrong with what Roxas said. It was justified. People should remember that Friday’s activity is not a testimonial dinner or an inspirational talk. It’s a protest demonstrating the anger of the majority of the Filipino people of moves to extend some greedy people in power beyond their constitutional terms. With the number of abuses this administration has committed, twisting the laws, a policy of lying, cheating and corruption that even the most reserved people cannot stomach all of these anymore. The emotions are high so the “putang ina” calling is very appropriate.

Let us remember that the curse was intended for the Cha-Cha that the administration is pushing, not Gloria.

So, what if it was not Senator Roxas who made that cursing speech? Slap Happy makes a good point here:

But believe me, if that was the typical Juan Dela Cruz who made the speech,the one who has been receiving the tail end of all this corruption, bankcruptcy, hunger and poverty; he'd end up saying far more worse cuss words than Putang ina.

And one thing that has been also proven that Senator Roxas will never be, if ever he runs for President in 2010, the candidate of the administration. He has already broke ties with Gloria after his agressive speech. This was what the Midfield blog said:

Having worked with the good senator when he was at the DTI, your Midfielder feels that the net resulkt is now Mar has fully severed any remaining invisibly umbilimcal cord with GMA.

Resorting to expletives may not seem to be the most gentlemanly way of cutting that cord but there is now no way to reattach it.

Now, the speculations of Senator Roxas being an administration lapdog-under-an-opposition-costume has been proven wrong.

And by the way, here's a quick note from the Pinoy Observer about these topic:

Senators are human too. 

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas' PI word during anti-Cha Cha rally was justified

WARNING: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS SOME EXPLETIVE WORDS

"Ngayon gusto ni Gloria na baluktutin ang ating Saligang Batas para manatili sa poder... Putang ina, ano ba 'to!"

Those were the words that Senator Mar Roxas said aggressively in front of around 7,000 people who protested against the proposed Charter Change (Cha-Cha) of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through Constituent Assembly.

Yes, the "putang ina" word was quite offensive, but it was justified. Roxas was not able to control his anger of the administration's continued use of Cha-Cha to perpetuate their self-interests. It was a strong-worded speech he made during the rally.

Roxas advocates Cha-Cha through a Constitutional Convention which its delegates would be elected together with the candidates of local and national positions in 2010.

Roxas is already fed up with the administration's ploy to extend Arroyo's term beyond 2010. Yes, Roxas might run for President in 2010. But we should ensure that if we have Cha-Cha, it should be after 2010 and the elections on that date should not be postponed just because of their self-interests.

Roxas' words were the feelings of every Filipino who are also against a Gloria Forever Constitution. He just wasn't able to control his emotions as it were natural.

It's not about the words. It's all about the issue.

Below is the video of Roxas' agressive speech during the anti-Cha-Cha rally in Makati last December 12.

Sunday, December 14, 2008 | posted in charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 3 comments [ More ]

TUCP supports Senator Mar Roxas' Con-Con proposal

Senator Mar Roxas' proposal to have a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), and not a Constituent Assembly, (Con-Ass) with the delegates elected simultaneously in the 2010 elections to change the Constitution has already gained the support of the one of the biggest labor organization in the Philippines composed primarily of trade unions, workers' organizations and other groups of workers.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Senator Roxas support Charter Change (Cha-Cha) but not with Gloria's Con-Ass that would create a Gloria Forever Constitution with Mrs. Arroyo's allies in the House of Representatives maneuvering the amendments to the Constitution.

Below is the article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer about the news:

by Jerome Aning
from Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—A moderate workers’ group on Sunday said it was joining the growing opposition led by civil society and Church-based groups to the renewed drive by allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo to amend the Constitution.

Usually supportive of the administration, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) warned of a popular uprising in the event Congress convenes itself into a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to ram through the changes it wants to make to the Constitution.

One of the fears of the opposing groups is that President Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives will push for term extensions for all elected officials among the changes.

"The people are eagerly looking forward to the 2010 presidential election and to a change in government. Exploiting Charter change (Cha-cha) as an excuse to postpone the polls is totally unacceptable," said TUCP secretary general Ernesto Herrera in a statement.

Herrera, a former senator, said postponing the elections would frustrate the people’s hopes for change and could drive them to the streets in an instant.

He said the TUCP supported Sen. Mar Roxas’ proposal for a constitutional convention (Con-con) whose delegates would be elected during the 2010 national polls.

Herrera urged Congress to focus instead from now until 2010 on passing new laws to stimulate the economy, save jobs and provide gainful employment to overseas Filipino workers displaced by the global financial crisis.

Citing the history of constitutional change in the country, Herrera said Filipinos “[had been] able to discern self-serving initiatives by politicians.”

He recalled that the 5th Congress convened itself into a constituent assembly from April 1966 to March 1967 to amend the 1935 Constitution.

In the subsequent plebiscite to ratify the amendments proposed by the assembly, Herrera said the voters rejected the first two resolutions that sought to increase the membership of the House and to allow congressmen to run for delegate to the 1971 constitutional convention.

He said the voters ratified only the third resolution which called for a Con-con.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 | posted in constituent assembly, constitutional convention, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, tucp | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to join anti-Cha-Cha protests; Bobit Avila supports Roxas' Con-Con proposal

Senator Mar Roxas on Tuesday again reiterated he would do everything to stop an alleged "Gloria Forever" plot including joining protest activities in the streets.

We must support him in saying NO to a Charter Change (Cha-Cha) that would give us a "Gloria Forever" constitution.

Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's allies in the House are railroading a Cha-Cha through Constituent Assembly, wherein the Congress formally convenes to propose amendments or revisions to the 1987 constitution; and under Article XVII of the Constitution of the Philippines, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members. The Supreme Court has not yet gave a jurisprudence on whether the Senate and the House of Representatives would be voting jointly or voting separately. If voting jointly, then the Senators would be easily defeated by their fellow solons while voting separately would give a balance of voice between the two chambers.

Senator Roxas and the Liberal Party has reiterated their rejection of convening Congress into a Constituent Assembly and instead called for the holding of a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) in 2010.

Under Article XVII, Sec.3 of the Constitution of the Philippines: “The Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its Members, call a constitutional convention, or by a majority vote of all its Members, submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention.” The voters would be electing a set of delegates from the best and the brightest to draft a new Constitution with less or even without political compromise.

Senator Roxas and I share the same opinion. I have been a long-time advocate of Cha-Cha through Con-Con for it is more apolitical that Con-Ass wherein we have Congressmen and Senators that have the tendency to give in to their political interests.

This proposal, which was also pushed by Senator Richard Gordon, earned the support by one of Cebu's respected columnist in the Freeman and in the Philippine Star Valeriano "Bobit" Avila. I read today his column in the Freeman when he was saying that Cha-Cha has now three (3) support groups.

Please do help us STOP the Gloria Forever Constitution. We don't want to dance the Cha-Cha with Gloria.

Click here to view the Liberal Party's newspaper ad about the Gloria Forever Constitution.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 | posted in bobit avila, charter change, constituent assembly, constitutional convention, dick gordon, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 1 comments [ More ]