02 November 2005
De Venecia on snap poll: ‘No way, Jose!’
BINMALEY-- House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. personally dismissed the snap election being called by members of the opposition who wanted President Arroyo to resign from office as a "non-issue".
Speaking to newsmen shortly after inaugurating the newly constructed municipal building of Binmaley, de Venecia said there will be no snap election as the same is not authorized under the Constitution.
"It is not authorized by law and if there will be a snap election, Congress must approve a billauthorizing the holding of a snap election and providing funds for the conduct of the same," he said.
He estimated the huge expenses in holding such political exercise at from three to five billion pesos which the country at this time of economic crisis can not afford to produce.
Calling the call of the opposition not only unconstitutional but also "non-issue", de Veneciaappealed to the opposition to stop demanding snap election because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro are not resigning from their posts."Let us not confuse anymore the Filipino people with statements that have no chance ofreaching first base," de Venecia begged the opposition.
In the case of President Arroyo, de Venecia said, she agreed that she will honor whatever constitutional provisions that will be included in the transitory provision regarding tenure of office of officials and provided that the same will be approved by the Filipino people.
At the same time, de Venecia laughed off the rumor that former President Fidel V. Ramos is involved in a conspiracy to mount a coup against President Arroyo.
Dismissing the rumor as another attempt to sow political intrigue by the opposition, deVenecia said he knows former President Ramos as one of the closest advisers of President Arroyo.
Ramos is the emeritus chairman of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, the ruling PhilippineParty while the chairman is President Arroyo herself. De Venecia is the party president.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after inaugurating the newly constructed municipal building of Binmaley, de Venecia said there will be no snap election as the same is not authorized under the Constitution.
"It is not authorized by law and if there will be a snap election, Congress must approve a billauthorizing the holding of a snap election and providing funds for the conduct of the same," he said.
He estimated the huge expenses in holding such political exercise at from three to five billion pesos which the country at this time of economic crisis can not afford to produce.
Calling the call of the opposition not only unconstitutional but also "non-issue", de Veneciaappealed to the opposition to stop demanding snap election because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro are not resigning from their posts."Let us not confuse anymore the Filipino people with statements that have no chance ofreaching first base," de Venecia begged the opposition.
In the case of President Arroyo, de Venecia said, she agreed that she will honor whatever constitutional provisions that will be included in the transitory provision regarding tenure of office of officials and provided that the same will be approved by the Filipino people.
At the same time, de Venecia laughed off the rumor that former President Fidel V. Ramos is involved in a conspiracy to mount a coup against President Arroyo.
Dismissing the rumor as another attempt to sow political intrigue by the opposition, deVenecia said he knows former President Ramos as one of the closest advisers of President Arroyo.
Ramos is the emeritus chairman of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, the ruling PhilippineParty while the chairman is President Arroyo herself. De Venecia is the party president.
