LACSON: SHORT-CIRCUIT OF CHA-CHA
PROCESS NOTHING SHORT OF RAPE

The attempt by Malacañang s allies in the Lower House to short-circuit Charter change through a constituent assembly is nothing short of constitutional rape, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said words are no longer enough to describe what he called the unconscionable act by pro-administration lawmakers to do away with rules in their rush to amend the Constitution.

What some congressmen did Tuesday night was nothing short of constitutional rape. This is one of those rare instances where words are no longer enough to describe the disgust over the latest and by far the most brazen attempt to ram Charter change down the peoples collective throats, he said.

He said that in Tuesday evenings session that lasted until 4 a.m. Wednesday, pro-Malacañang lawmakers threw away all pretensions about being an independent co-equal branch of government.

Whatever sense of decency left in them, they threw out the window last night. Like thieves in the night, they pounced upon the unsuspecting citizenry just as it was fast asleep, he said.

Despite their failure to achieve their goal before dawn Wednesday, members of the Lower House suspended their session and were to resume their session Wednesday afternoon.

Lacson reiterated that while Malacañang and its allies can dream on about their final push for a constituent assembly, they must in the end wake up to the reality of defeat in the May 2007 elections.

He maintained a constituent assembly will require both Houses of Congress to separately issue resolutions for a joint session.

Also, he reiterated he is willing to join other senators in filing a petition with the Supreme Court questioning the move of Malacañang and its allies in the Lower House for a so-called constituent assembly.