LIKE THIEVES IN THE NIGHT...

They did it at a time when almost the rest of the archipelago was asleep. The maneuver was dragged towards midnight. Many valiant voices tried to crash it. But how can they when the other party simply has the numbers?

It's like watching the TV game show 1 VS 100.

It's the number's game and that's how they pulled the biggest robbery of our constitutional rights as citizens of this country. Using their massive numbers,without shame and with total disregard to the very reason why they occupy their respective seats in Congress, they eventually did what many dreaded they would do to protect their selfish interests.

At exactly 11:20 in the evening last night members of the majority block at the House of Representatives passed House Resolution #1109 empowering themselves to convene into a Constituent Assembly (CON-ASS).

But unlike thieves in the night, they did not pull the act totally under the cover of darkness which made the act more sinister than an ordinary act of robbery.

The motives are not even hidden. The possibilities are open under a congress acting into a constituent assembly and that includes a possible move for term extension for the present Administration.

Representative Teddy Casiño said that under HR 1109, the entire 1987 Constitution is open to amendments putting into center stage the Malacañang agenda. "This will allow the politicians to keep themselves in power," Casiño stressed.

"It's just a resolution," this is how some lawmakers' justification of why they approved HR 1109 clearly downplaying the impact of their decision. But if it was but a mere resolution why did they act in absolute rush?

ANO ANG HINAHABOL NILA? BAKIT SILA NAGMAMADALI? MAY KARERA BA? MAY DEADLINE BA?

On the floor, Congressman Teofisto Guingona III asked, "Have we no shame? Let us stop this farce immediately." That fell on deft ears.

211 lawmakers were present---a rare record in the Lower House, an indicator as early as 4 in the afternoon yesterday that something really big will happen. HR 1109 was not even part of the priority agenda. At the gallery of Batasang Pambansa, various groups representing farmers and the agricultural sector were in attendance anticipating something else: the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.

They thought it was their night. But as House speaker Prospero Nograles made his move on the floor, approaching his allies one by one, it was evident that the show of numbers was for something else---not for the sector whose rights they should be protecting through legislation, but for their own interpretation of what is good for this country.

Defender of the Constitution Catholic priest Joaquin Bernas see in no other way. The act he said is a threat to democracy. "Nakakagalit. Pinaglalaruan nila ang Saligang Batas. Pinaglalaruan nila ang taongbayan."

But now that the controlled mob in Congress did their part on this grand plot to perpetuate themselves in power, the question here is what is the next move?

Who will really emerge as the true defender of democracy in this critical period directly threatening the Constitution and Democracy?

It is ironic that this blatant move to "gang-rape" the constitution comes just days before the country commemorates again the birth of our Independence as a nation.

This time, the very forces that threaten our democracy are not even outsiders, but our own, fellow Filipinos, sons and daughters of the victory of the Revolution of 1898.

One wonders how and why a nation can collectively express anger in a porn video directed and produced by one Hayden Kho and not stand up in anger and rage against a shameless display of tyranny and deception.

One wonders if there's really a scarcity of Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, Del Pilar, Silang amongst us.

Then as I ponder on these thoughts, a congressman offered an insight, saying that last night's act of majority members of Congress triggers the restlessness of the country's "social volcano".

Eruption imminent.(end)