Pressure tactics by De Venecia?

I suspect that Speaker Jose De Venecia is using the public consultation with barangay electors as pressure tactics to convince the members of the Senate that they better go along with the House idea of pushing through with the Charter Change.

One cannot think otherwise. After all, as pointed out by Senator Francisco Pangilinan, the absence of an enabling act virtually undercuts the People's Initiative as De Venecia describes the weekend exercise.

Even if the local government units can solicit the signatures of 4.8 million of Filipino voters, that still cannot make the move constitutional since it had not been authorized by both houses of Congress. In short, it could end up as an exercise in futility. And even lead to a prolonged court battle.

Still, one can use the signatures as a warning gambit on the senators that they either heed the collective clamor by the population or risk the chance of their getting marginalized.

The mere fact that it was masked within the consultation with barangay assemblies as consultations on people's concerns about the Local Government Code shows that it is a well-planned move and not just a spontaneous decision, albeit announced with only a few days to spare before actual implementation.

In short, the purpose is not to push it through as People's Initiative, but rather to convince the Senate that the popular support is for constitutional change.

De Venecia is a wily political in-fighter. What he can't get directly, he most likely will resort to tangential approaches to get. And this may be the reason why he resorted to the People's Initiative as the battering ram to use against the recalcitrant senators.

Thus, from our vantage point, it is the height of optimism for him to have predicted that the interim parliament will be activated by July and the Interim Parliament members installed with the abolition of both houses of the bicameral Congress. The grand strategy of De Venecia may be gleaned from the column of Government media head Cerge Remonde who pointed out that it will be difficult for the Senate to dismiss the "People's Initiative" by De Venecia.

In short, the shape of things to come is slowly emerging. Wait for the next round.

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What gives with STL?

First, there was the report that Palawan City Mayor Edward Hagedorn was in it. It had even been billed as his brainchild. Suddenly, it was no longer Hagedorn. He seems to have been eased out of the project.

Now, it has become a full-fledged Philippine Charity Sweepstakes project to displace the illegal jueteng. But if one were to analyze it, STL is just jueteng masquerading under a new name. It actually is not something new. That had been done earlier but aborted with the fall of the former President Joseph Estrada.

Now, it is back. On reportedly an experimental basis in several localities. Watch for its endorsement later into a nationwide anti-jueteng campaign. Unfortunately, whether you like it or not, the results will just be the same. It will be gambling with the poor still the principal victims.

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After a temporary slide, millgate prices of sugar picked up again this week. First, of course, was the trend-setter DOLE bidding which saw its sugar sold at P1,063 for A and P1,220 for its domestic for "B" sugar.

Then the two planters associations of the Hawaiian-Philippines mill district disposed of their sugar at P1,065 for the US-destined sugar, and P1,252 for domestic sugar.

Kabilog of the Southern Negros Development Corp. disposed of its A sugar at P1,062 for A and P1,208 per Lkg. for B sugar.

Undoubtedly, that trend will follow the pattern as of yesterday. I'll make a full report on sugar trading in the next column.

Suffice it to say, that for sugar producers, they must be heaving a sigh of relief with the devastating impact of cyclone Larry in Australia's Queensland area.

The destructive cyclone not only felled homes, but also razed Queensland's banana plantations and wipe out a large tract of its ripening sugarcane crops.

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That was truly alarming. Six unidentified suspects reportedly robbed a cell shop just before closing time last Wednesday.

The haul reached P175,000 in cash, P100,000 worth of cell cards, and 12 assorted cellphones.

The robbers, however, also gunned down security guard Donald Omoyon of the Kent's Cellphone Repair parts and accessories. The establishment was reportedly owned by Kent and Chinky Lariosa, 35.

The suspects reportedly fled on board three motorcycles toward Barangay Tinago of Dumaguete City.

The robbery was called by Dumaguete Police chief Dionardo Carlos as well planned. Two suspects were reportedly invited by the police for questioning.

Both Dino Pecada, 19, of Barangay Bagacay and George Locsin, also 19, of Brgy. Batinguel, reportedly picked up the two after they were reported to have been selling cell cards and cellphones at a low price.*

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