Lawmakers and Lawbreakers

In 2010, my country will have another National Election to determine our future leaders. In other more developed countries, this would have been considered just another official exercise of our (citizen's) right to vote. In the Philippines, it is a circus that begins at least a year before the actual elections.

A few days ago signalled the beginning of such an activity leading to a predicted result by the people in office. The House of Representatives (lawmakers in the Lower House of the Philippine Congress) railroaded the passage of House Bill 1109 calling for a Constitutional Assembly to amend the Philippine Constitution.

A lot has been said about the ills of changing the charter at this time. But the lawmakers who signed the said resolution did not budge and did not blink an eye when they (the majority) approved the same in an overnight session. Where will this activity lead to?

Today, June 10 will mark the first day of protests against this bill. For a country that is import-dependent and trying to project a positive image to the world, this protest will be another blackeye for the Arroyo administration. I hope that fellow citizens and netizens out there will take time to find out who these lawmakers are and remember not to vote for them in the next election.

Lawbreakers should be penalized.