Failure of Election Now a Distinct Possibility with the Failure of Congress to Pass Laws on Succession
Bayan Muna Party List Representative Neri Javier Colmenares lamented the failure of Congress to pass bills aimed at providing for orderly succession should there be failure of election. “With the appointment of the Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, a fierce Arroyo loyalist as AFP Chief of Staff, the widespread brownouts, and Comelec’s admission that it may not finish printing the ballots in time for the 2010 elections, the threat of failure of election is now a very distinct possibility” Rep. Colmenares declared. “The scenario painted by Sen. Enrile about a military takeover once the election fails is a serious cause for concern that should have been addressed by Congress” he added. Bayan Muna has filed a bill designating the Chief Justice as acting president in case no president, vice president, senators and congressmen are elected due to the breakdown of the automated election.
“The failure of Speaker Nograles to lead the House of Representatives into passing a succession law and preempt a national catastrophe only favors Pres. Gloria Arroyo who may hold over as president if the 2010 election fails” said the Bayan Muna representative. “His justification that members of the majority cannot muster quorum should a special session be called because they are campaigning is certainly shocking. Speaker Nograles has practically admitted that majority congressmen from Lakas-Kampi, NPC and the Liberal Party are conducting the illegal act of campaigning even before the start of the campaign period on March 26” he added.
Bayan Muna to Bangit -- Stop illegal AFP campaigns against us
Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Teddy Casiño challenged new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit to stop all illegal campaigns done by the AFP against Bayan Muna, progressive candidates and activist organizations.
"We are calling on Gen. Bangit to immediately stop all illegal campaigns committed by the AFP against partylists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Akap-Bata, and Katribu, and progressive senatorial candidates Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza. We have received reports of what appears to be a nationwide smear campaign against us, including physical threats on our volunteers," Casiño said.
Military Feeding Program at 10 PM, harassment to Bayan Muna Leaders and Supporters
The people of Sityo Kabute, Brgy. Real in Calamba City were surprised when military arrived in their community one evening to allegedly conduct a “feeding program” among the children in their barangay. On March 7, at around 10 PM, military arrived in a 6x6 truck in the said barangay led by a certain Lt. Ansino of the 202nd IB and said they were going to conduct a feeding program that evening. The same military unit which is based in Tanay, Rizal, is responsible for the illegal arrest of 43 health workers on February 6, also known as the Morong 43.
The community people refused the military plan so they vigilantly barricaded all entrance and exit points to their community throughout the night to block the military from conducting the “feeding program”. The military only left in the morning. According to community folks, the military is looking for their barangay leaaders and Bayan Muna leaders. Aside from using the feeding program as an alibi, the military also used the issue of their land so leaders might talk to them that evening.
The President and her minions in the JBC is threatening to violate the Constitution and the Supreme Court itself in the case of In re Villarta by insisting that an outgoing president can appoint members of the judiciary two months before an election. Again, President Arroyo is engaging in constitutional brinkmanship in order to protect herself and keep open plans to return to power at a later time.
Any justice who accepts an appointment from Pres. Arroyo will suffer the kiss of death of a hated president. He or she will suffer the same fate as presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro, whose galing at talino has been tainted by the presidential kiss of death.
Bayan Muna asks Supreme Court to Prohibit JBC from submitting CJ List to Arroyo: The Court should Avoid Arroyo’s Kiss of Death
Bayan Muna Party List called on the Supreme Court today to prohibit the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) from submitting its nominees for the post of Chief Justice to Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
“The Constitution and the Supreme Court itself in the case of In re Villarta has declared that the outgoing president cannot appoint members of the judiciary two months before an election”, said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares. “Otherwise she will now have the luxury of appointing not only the Chief Justice but also a new justice to replace CJ Reynato Puno,” he added.
CEBU CITY – Military elements take another form of harassment here against supporters of Satur Ocampo, Lisa Masa, Bayan Muna and other progressive partylist.
A barangay captain in Mandaue City received a letter dated January 21 implying that he is a supporter of the CPP-NPA-NDF because he supports Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza who, according to the letter “milunsad sa armado ug legal nga pakigbisog aron lumpagon ang demokrtikong gubyerno” (launching armed and legal struggle to destablize the democratic government).
