CON-ASS STILL A THREAT; VIGILANCE VIA BANTAY
KORTE SUPREMA BECOMES CRITICAL

Independent Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan along with members of Bantay Korte Suprema warns everyone of the importance of continued vigilance of House Resolution 1109, or the Senate-less Constitutional Assembly bill, especially as the President's State of the Nation Address approaches.

The Bantay Korte Suprema, a watchdog group of which Pangilinan is a convenor, focuses on the judiciary and the selection of the next set of appointees to the Supreme Court. The group hopes that the next set of appointed justices will be free from political influence.

"We should not be caught unaware once more as we were with the passing of HR 1109. We must not forget that day," Pangilinan says. "A constitutional assembly may convene shortly after President Arroyo's SONA."

The controversial bill may reach the Supreme Court if contested, and Pangilinan fears that with several Malacanang appointed justices in the highest court, the judiciary may swing in favor of the constitutional assembly.

"Kung hindi natin babantayan ang Korte Suprema, mananaig ang makapansariling interes ng ilan sa ating mga pulitiko. We must stop the prostitution of our Constitution and the peddling of the highest court of the land."