Angered by cowardly act of murder, Rep. Ariel Hernandez, from Anak Mindanao Party List,condemn the killing of Rene Penas, one of the leaders of the MAPALAD farmers in Bukidnon. Mr. Penas  was ambushed last night near his farm in Brgy. San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. 

This was a shocking news to the Mindanawon solon especially that the farmers were successful in their lobby for HB 4077 that was finally passed last Wednesday at the House of Representatives.  

“Police should investigate this killing expeditiously. If the killing is related to the leaders’ advocacy in agrarian reform, let the court of justice act without hesitation to bring the perpetrators in jail, ” Hernandez strongly urged.

Hernandez recalls how Mr. Penas and the core leaders of Mapalad farmers showed their commitment to Agrarian Reform when they first staged their hunger strike in 1997 that caught the attention of the country.  Hernandez was then one of the key leaders in the support group who accompanied the Mapalad farmers in their quest for justice.

Though upset, Hernandez added that “Rene may not witness the fruits of the extension of CARP, but definitely his passion for agrarian reform will be emulated by thousand more leaders in the countryside.”

REP. HERNANDEZ WALKS OUT OF CHACHA

In what was to be his first occasion to vote as member of the House of Representatives, newly-proclaimed Anak Mindanao Representative Ariel Hernandez opted to walk out of the proceedings that eventually led to the adoption of House Resolution 1109, which calls for the members of Congress to convene into a Constitutional Assembly.

            “I was looking forward to casting my No vote to the Charter Change but it became too obvious that the proceedings was a mere charade, luto na! I did not want to be caught in their trap and be part of a scripted part of history.” the Mindanawan solon explained.

            Rep. Hernandez however believes that there are indeed provisions in the 1987 Constitution needing review and revisions to address current issues especially within the Mindanaw context, but emphasized that now is not the time to do it.

            “Mindanaw peace and development has always been Anak Mindanao’s and my personal agenda and we recognize the need for Constitutional amendments to realize this agenda,” Hernandez said. “There are political options like Federalism which has the potential of solving the crisis in Mindanaw, not just the political issues of Right to Self Determination of the Bangsamoro and the Indigenous People, but also the potential to bring in necessary, sustainable and self-reliant kind of development to the region. But this will only become an option if the Constitution is changed,” he further said.

            When asked if he favors Constitutional Assembly, Hernandez stressed his support to the call for a Constitutional Convention instead of a Constitutional Assembly. The solon argued that any change in the Constitution will only be morally acceptable when made with the direct mandate from the people.

HATAMAN VOTES AGAINST CHACHA

Amidst public criticism and opposition, the House of Representatives passed on June 2, 2009 House Resolution 1109, A Resolution Calling Upon the Members of Congress to Convene for the Purpose of Considering Proposals to Amend or Revise the Constitution upon a vote of three-fourths of all the members of Congress.

Members from the minority raised their objection to the motion stopping the interpellation period and to go on voting for the adoption of the resolution. AMIN Representative Mujiv Hataman echoed the complain of his fellow minority House members that what occurred was blatant tyranny.

“We conformed to the submission of the Committee report based on the agreement that HR 1109 will be exhaustively deliberated upon in the plenary. But now they deny us even the right to ask questions and introduce amendments to the Resolution,” Hataman said.

Hataman explained that he is for Charter Change, especially in the context of changing some provisions of the Constitution to accommodate peace initiatives and agreements for Mindanao.

“One of the major impediments to achieving peace in Mindanao is the Constitution. From the first Tripoli Agreement, to the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement, and lately the foiled GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain, we are again and again confronted by the issue of their Constitutionality. Pushing for the interest of Mindanao therefore calls for Charter Change,” Hataman explains.

However, the Muslim solon stood against HR 1109 saying it was a question of timing and agenda. “We acknowledge the need for Constitutional amendments, especially for Mindanao, but not now. Not now when there is a well-founded suspicion that this will be used to avert a change in the administration. We cannot afford to take the risk of opening the Constitution to people who have proven themselves not worthy of trust,” he said.

Further, Hataman expressed opting for Constitutional Convention as a mode of changing the Constitution. “A Constitutional Assembly is not representative of the people’s voice because the members of the House are not mandated by the people to change the Constitution. They were elected as legislators. Whereas in a ConCon, people elect who they want to represent them and articulate in their behalf the changes they want in the Constitution,” he ended.