Dear Friends:

Sharing with you the Ateneo de Naga University Statement against Constituent Assembly finalized and adopted in yesterday's Council of Administrators meeting. The statement was signed by majority of the university students, faculty, and personnel.

Salamat po.


In solidarity,

RENNE F. GUMBA
Executive Director
Institute of Politics (I.P.)
2F Administration Building
Ateneo de Naga University
4400 Naga City Philippines
Tel. (63-54) 4722368 local 2013
Fax (63-54) 4739253

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ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
STATEMENT ON THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RESOLUTION 1109 CONVENING CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

In the darkness of night of June 2, 2009 the House of Representatives worked overtime. The majority passed Resolution 1109 against the valiant efforts of the minority to prevent its passage. Against the will of the majority of Filipinos, they resolved to convene a constituent assembly. They demonstrated why the majority of the Filipinos distrust Congress, and why, if the Constitution must be changed, they prefer a Constitutional Convention after 2010. In their resolution 1109, they betrayed the teeming masses they represent for the scheming machinations of Malacañang. We call on these congressmen and -women to return to representing their constituents and their consciences.

DO NOT BETRAY THE PEOPLE!

The House of Representatives, by resolving to convene itself into Constituent Assembly and to initiate charter change at this point, opens a Pandora’s box! Once convened, the Constituent Assembly may take up any agenda and make decisions, even without the consent of the people! Through the hurried passage of HR 1109, they initiated the move to amend the Constitution in a manner that lacks respect for and recognition of the duly established legal process. They junked the Senate. They betrayed the Constitution they vowed to protect and preserve. They manifested an utter disregard for genuine representation. They ceased to be our delegates, our trustees, and our representatives. Through such unprincipled action they have arrogated to themselves the authority that they are Constitutionally mandated to share with the Senate. They are not interested in reason, discussion, deliberation. They are interested in constitutional change through a sleight of hand, an intellectual chimera, a flawed argument, to strengthen the hold on power of the person in Malacanang, and to prevent any deliberation in the light.

DO NOT PLAY WITH FIRE!

Our country is imperiled by an economic situation that fails to respond to the driving poverty of our people, unmitigated corruption, declining trust and confidence in political leaders and institutions! A charter change process before the 2010 elections, that keeps charter change hostage to the interests of Malacañang, is dangerously divisive; it will fuel further adventurism among armed groups from the left and the right, and will awaken angry political action among large groups that have been content so far to be quiet. That quiet may be replaced by a willingness to fight and die in conscience for the good of the nation.

DO NOT PROVOKE TROUBLE!

In the spirit of strengthening our democratic institutions and retaining the fragile national unity that we are trying so hard to sustain, we strongly call on them to desist from pursuing Charter Change through a Constituent Assembly!

CEASE AND DESIST! STOP CON-ASS!