Rule by decree ends for Filipinos

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 10

Rule by decree ends for Filipinos

NZPA-Reuter Manila An era of rule by decree ended for Filipinos yesterday when their first elected Congress in 15 years opened with pledges from legislators to rebuild the country. The convening of the two houses of Congress fulfilled. President Corazon Aquino’s pledge to restore the Philippines to constitutional rule when she was swept to power 17 months ago in a civilianbacked military rebellion. “The forces of liberty

... have formally reclaimed this sanctuary of freedom,” Senate president Jovito Salonga said at the inauguration in a 61-year-old building padlocked in 1972 by former president Ferdinand Macos when he declared martial law. Mr Marcos ended martial law in 1981 and won a presidential election the same year. A national assembly was set up in 1984, but was mainly a rubber-stamp legislature because the agenda had to be approved by Mr Marcos.

Mr Salonga and Congressman Ramon Mitra, who were among tens of thousands of political prisoners held in army stockades by Mr Marcos, were formally elected presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. “We are determined to build anew from the ruins of a corrupt, ruthless dictatorship,” Mr Salonga told the Senate. President Aquino’s ruling centrist People Power coalition holds big majorities in the two houses after routing Right-wing and Leftist opponents in national elections on May 11.

Marcos supporters and left-wing groups planned to stage protest marches outside both buildings, which are 30km apart, but troops stood guard throughout the cere-

monies. The Capital Defence Command chief, Briga-dier-General Alexander Aguirre, said he had received “raw” intelligence reports alleging that die-hard Marcos followers, under an operation code-named “Sunflower,” planned to disrupt proceedings. “I appeal to them to abandon whatever plans they have,” he said in a radio broadcast.

Minutes after presiding officers in the two houses banged their gavels to call the sessions to order, the newly-elected legislators stood at attention to sing the national anthem.

About 200 jubilant supporters of President Aquino gathered outside the Senate building, wearing yellow T-shirts, the colour of the ruling coalition, and waving banners saying, “Welcome Democracy.” Senator Aquilino Pimentel said: “The Congress as a whole still has to prove its worth. We have heard a lot of rhetoric this morning. I want to see that translated into fact.”

"This is really a step towards redemocratising. I hope we can rebuild and strengthen the institutions that were shattered during the dictatorship,” said Rene Saquisang, President Aquino’s former spokesman and one of the new senators.

Only one opposition member, actor-politician Joseph Estrada, was among the senators who took their oaths of office.

The proclamation of former defence minister Juan Ponce Enriie, the only other opposition member likely to take his seat in the Senate, has been held up while the Commission on Elections tries to resolve a dispute over the vote count for former Labour Minister Augusto Sanchez, who is in twenty-fifth place.