MANILA – Malacanang’s promise of cash and extra “pork barrel” allocation powered the speedy passage in the House of Representatives of the controversial Charter-change (Cha-cha) resolution which, critics charged, aims to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beyond 2010, reliable sources disclosed.
The sources, who belong to the pro-Arroyo camp in the House, said the plan to ram Cha-cha through the House was hatched immediately after President Arroyo presided over the merger of the country’s two biggest political parties a week ago on Thursday.
Merged were the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats and the “Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino” (Kampi, or Partners of the Free Filipinos).
The sources, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, disclosed that after the merger, the President met behind closed doors with leaders of the new political party, to discuss the chances of Cha-cha being approved by the House.
It was during this meeting that one of the party leaders, House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. of Davao City in Mindanao, proposed that cash and extra “pork” allocations be dangled before the administration supporters in exchange for their support for the Cha-cha resolution, the sources added.
The amount in cash was not specified but what was agreed upon was the promise of an extra pork allocation equivalent to $40,000 for each of the administration lawmakers who would vote for the resolution, the sources added.
Under the 2009 national budget, each House member is entitled to more than $1.1 million in pork, now known as the Countrywide Development Fund. On the other hand, senators, who are elected nationally, are allocated $24 million each as their share in pork.
“What is significant is that the promise of extra pork allocation and cash worked wonders,” the sources pointed out. “The favorite traveling companions of President Arroyo in her foreign trips did not join her during her visit to South Korea on June 1 and 2. Instead, they stayed behind to ensure that the administration lawmakers did their part of the bargain by voting for the Cha-cha resolution.”
The resolution was approved during a marathon House session before midnight on Tuesday, which was greeted by protests that what the House did amounted to a “gang rape” of the 1987 Constitution, as described by noted constitutional law expert Father Joaquin Bernas, a Jesuit priest.
Militant organizations as well as civil society and religious groups announced they would hold street protests and demonstrations against Cha-cha and demand anew the resignation of President Arroyo whose aides have insisted that she was not behind its passage as claimed by the opposition and critics.
Director General Jesus Verzosa, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), assured they would respect the rights of the protesters as long as they obtain the necessary rally permits from the mayors.
Because of their focus on Cha-cha, the opposition and other critics also pointed out that other pending pieces of legislation, foremost of which was the bill extending the government’s agrarian reform programme, were left on the sidelines.
But before the House adjourned its regular session for a month-long break on Thursday, the members voted “viva voce” or by voice vote to pass the bill extending for another five years the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme (Carp), with an additional funding of about $200 million.
As pointed out earlier, however, the House approval does not mean the automatic transmission of the bill to Malacanang for signature into law by the President.
Legislative experts explained that because the bill was also approved by the Senate, it now goes to a bicameral conference committee, composed of representatives from the Senate and the House, so that they can first iron out its conflicting provisions.
But because Congress is now in recess, the House and the Senate cannot act on the Carp bill unless President Arroyo calls a special session to tackle the Carp bill and other vital measures which were not acted upon before they adjourned, the experts said.
Without a Congress special session, they said the Carp bill has to await action after one month when the House and the Senate resume session on July 27.
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