The belatedly released Resolution of Both Houses No. 4, which contains the approval by the Congress of the extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao, is a copycat version of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proffered justification in his letter dated December 8, 2017 to the Congress seeking the extension.
Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, the lead petitioner in G.R. No. 235935, told the Supreme Court this in his oral argument.
The inordinate fast-tracking of the approval by the House of Representatives of the concurrent resolution calling for a Constituent Assembly to recommend the shift to a federal system by amending the 1987 Constitution confirms the critical view that the supermajority will railroad charter change.
The leadership of the House with the support of the supermajority is addicted to expediting the approval of bills and resolutions without affording dissenting Representatives the full opportunity to ventilate their opposition.
It is pure fantasy for Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to boast that President Rodrigo Duterte has accomplished his campaign promises, except for the pending shift to federalism.
It is utter miscommunication and disconnect for Andanar to assert that that the problems on poverty, the drug menace, corruption and peace and order have been solved.
Andanar failed to disclose any data that the annual nationwide incidence of poverty of 21.6% in 2015 has been reduced to a tolerable level during the first year and a half of the Duterte administration.
A strong argument, if not the strongest, against constituting the House of Representatives and the Senate into a constituent assembly is that the supermajority solons will convert the constituent assembly into a virtual rubberstamp of President Rodrigo Duterte.
With the projected constituent assembly principally composed of Duterte’s dyed in the wool allies, what the President wants as amendments or revision will be delivered with alacrity and minimal debate.
Last year it was the furtive and fast-tracked burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani even as the Supreme Court had not yet resolved with finality the issue on the interment of Marcos in the memorial cemetery for heroes.
Now, it is exhuming the Marcos’ multi-billion dollar ill-gotten wealth from foreign and local burial grounds for a projected compromise agreement with the government on the return of the hoard even partially.
