Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor has proposed that the Administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would form a "unity ticket" which would include six opposition bets in its 12-member senatorial slate.

The "unity ticket" would include captured former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

Defensor, a member of the Liberal Party (Atienza wing), said that aside from Honasan, the Administration was exploring the possibility of recruiting former Senators Tessie Aquino-Oreta, John Osmeña and re-electionist Senators Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan and Edgardo Angara to bolster the Administration's bid to grab control of the Senate.

But former Sen. Heherson Alvarez of the Administration Lakas CMD said the move to take Honasan, which reeks of political opportunism, is bad modeling for political parties and reflects very poor respect for our system of justice.

"Why, after spending so much money and effort to capture Honasan, would the government want to get him on its senatorial slate," Alvarez said in a press statement last Tuesday.

On the other hand, the opposition through Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. dismissed the proposal for a "unity ticket" as a desperate attempt to ensure political survival.

Pimentel said that the proposal would never see the light of day because the coalition of opposition parties, including President Estrada's Pwersa ng Masa, had already drawn up a senatorial slate for the next year's mid-term elections which includes Honasan.

* * * * *

It appears that the Administration is panicking. The latest poll survey released by the Pulse Asia Inc. showed that opposition bet, former Sen. Loren Legarda and 18 other opposition bets would likely dominate the senatorial race if elections were held.

Found in the top 12 are Legarda, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Sen. Manuel Villar, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, former Sen. Vicente Sotto, Sen. Ralph Recto, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, bar top notch Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Mayor JV Ejercito-Estrada, and Sen. Egardo Angara.

Control of the Senate is vital, since it sits in all impeachment cases.

* * * * *
The Supreme Court finally laid to rest the issue on Charter change (Cha-cha) through people's initiative.

Voting 8-7, the Supreme Court last Tuesday denied with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by Raul Lambino of Sigaw ng Bayan, and the Office of the Solicitor General, on the dismissal of a petition for people's initiative for Cha-cha preparatory to a shift to the unicameral-parliamentary system.

But the High Tribunal reversed its 1997 ruling on the sufficiency of Republic Act No. 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act. The Supreme Court ruled that Republic Act No. 6735 was sufficient for the political exercise.

However, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said that such decision was not binding and could not be used by groups who would want to mount another people's initiative.

Santiago maintained that the law was still not sufficient to conduct a people's initiative to propose changes to the Charter.

* * * * *

For comments and reactions, send mail to Atty. Jorge D. Cabalit, Cabalit Law Office, 74 Belderol Street, Tagbilaran City or send e-mail to: viewpoints@boholchronicle.com