The Philippine Online Chronicles

The road to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's final State of the Nation Address (SONA) is paved with swine flu, threats of destabilization and con-ass. Nonetheless, preparations for the annual event are underway.

“We are in full and close coordination with all departments, agencies and offices concerned including the Senate and Malacañang,” Speaker Prospero Nograles said in a statement. Security preparations are also being made in anticipation of anti-administration rallies that will reportedly circle the Batasang Pambansa complex.

At Malacañang, the presidential management staff is already gathering data and preparing drafts of the speech, the final writing of which the president herself will be overseeing. According to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, “The president is ready to deliver her SONA. It is up to the leadership of Congress to decide when it will be held.”

The SONA was announced for July 27. The question now is what legislative drama will play out on that date.

Pulling a “fast one”

The biggest specter looming over the SONA is that of pro-charter change congressmen convening a constituent assembly.

Suspicions have remained that pro-GMA members of the House of Representatives will take advantage of the presence of both congressmen and senators during the SONA and attempt to convene a con-ass immediately after.

According to Ilocos Norte representative Roque Ablan Jr., the SONA would be the best “window of opportunity”.

“That is one of the scenarios we have discussed because even one or two senators in attendance is enough to convene a con-ass,” he said.

House members have repeatedly denied they will try to call for an assembly out of the blue.

“There is no plan to pull a fast one on senators by convening those who will attend the joint session for the SONA into a con-ass immediately after the president’s address,” said deputy majority leader Juan Edgardo Angara.

“We are not that callous and I don’t think that occasion will be taken advantage of,” said La Union representative Victor Ortega, who also chairs the committee on constitutional amendments.

Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel of the party-list group An Waray said that Speaker Nograles “will not do a trick on [the senators].”

“Their fears are unfounded.” he said. “They should trust in the speaker’s sense of propriety and respect for fellow lawmakers.”

Nonetheless, some senators have decided not to take their chances.

The senators, who will find themselves squarely in the minority if their votes at con-ass are taken together with the lower house, have already passed a resolution deeming a con-ass without consideration for the upper house as unconstitutional.

Senate boycott

Following the rumors of an impromptu assembly, some are now threatening to walk out on the SONA.

Senator Pia Cayetano warned pro-con-ass constituents that “They should just drop the plan or expect walkouts and boycotts by senators and independent-minded House members in protest and in defiance of their sham political exercise.”

In a Philstar.com report, Senator Francis Escudero has said that he will stay at home and watch the SONA on TV. On the other hand, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would rather join an anti-con-ass rally than attend.

Senator Francisco Pangilinan has also threatened to boycott the event. “I will play it by ear. If I see signs that dirty tricks will be undertaken during the SONA, then I will not appear...I hope her allies will realize that her term expires in 2010 based on our Constitution and that she would not make any effort to change the Constitution for her own ends.”

Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile stated that he “will immediately adjourn the session of the Senate” should House members attempt to convene a constituent assembly.

“We will just hear the president’s SONA and there will be no more agenda,” he said.

Photo taken from Sneaky-ZoO on Flickr.

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