ROXAS: LOZANO PETITION VS "CON-ASSWANG" A FARCE URGES COLLEAGUES TO FILE OWN PETITION WITH SC

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today urged senators to hasten the filing of a manifestation with the Supreme Court questioning the legality of House Resolution 1109 to preempt a Malacañang plot to mislead the public through a pseudo court petition.

"Kitang-kita natin sa isinumite na petisyon ni Atty. (Oliver) Lozano na mahina talaga ito, ampaw talaga itong petition for rejection na ito. Ang disenyo nito ay para matulungan iyong mga nagsusulong ng Chacha. Para sa akin Trojan Horse ito eh. Ang layunin nito ay para matalo nang sa ganun ay ma-legitimize iyong 1109," he said.

He pointed out that should the SC dismiss or reject the Lozano petition, this would give the false impression that the contentious House Resolution is legitimate or constitutional.

"Kasi kahit hindi hinatulan ng tapat ng Korte Suprema ito, kung hindi hinatulan ng diretso iyong 1109, ang implikasyon in rejecting the petition ay baka magmukhang legitimate iyong 1109," he said.

This, he insisted, is why senators should rush the filing of a petition with the SC to nullify HR 1109. "Kaya mahalagang-mahalaga para sa akin, at iminumungkahi ko, na kami sa Senado ay magsampa na kami ng aming position paper na matibay at talagang nilalaman ang mga tamang depensa, ang mga tamang probisyon nang sa ganun ay hindi basta-basta na mababalewala ito," he said.

Roxas offered his proposal for an immediate filing of a formal Senate position on the unconstitutionality of HR 1109 during the emergency All Senators' caucus called by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at Thursday noon.

The Visayan senator had branded as "Con-ASSwang" the railroaded approval of HR 1109, which allowed the convening of a Senate-less constituent assembly to amend or revise the Constitution. He had distributed garlands of "bawang" (garlic) among his peers and to members of the House who opposed the Malacañang-backed Charter Change move.

He had also filed Senate Resolution No. 1126 challenging President Arroyo to disown and reject the latest House move, insisting the president has the constitutional and moral duty to denounce the unconstitutional act of her House allies. The resolution was co-authored by Senators Benigno Aquino III and Rodolfo Biazon.

"Ang Malakanyang ang nasa likod nitong lahat. Hindi mangyayari ito, hindi magpupuyat ang mga kongresista hanggang alas-dose ng gabi ... para isulong itong Con-ASSwang na ito kung walang utos mula sa Malakanyang. At kumpirmado iyan ni Speaker (Prospero) Nograles. Siya mismo ang nagsabi na napag-usapan ito sa harap ng Pangulo nung pagsanib ang Partido Lakas at Kampi o PALAKA," Roxas insisted.