The word is almost everywhere from newspaper publications, radio news announcements, tv news and even in drinking sessions.

To understand con-ass we have to discuss first HR 1109 or House Resolution 1109. HR 1109 is passed during a session maraton that was held in the House. The House majority found a way to set up a constituent assembly (con-ass) to make way for amendments or revisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Now what is con-ass?

With the consecutive attempts to realize chacha or charter change, they found another failsafe in doing so. Con-ass is a means to put a motion for charter change proceedings.

Now we must go back to “What is HR 1109?”.

The passage of House Resolution 1109 states that:
“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 fourts of all the members of congress.”

This is taken from a hole in the 1987 Philippine Constitution in Article XVII: Amendments or Revisions:
Sec. 1 Any amendment to, or revision of, this constitution may be proposed by:
(1) The congress, upon a vote of three-fourts of all its members”

If you look into how many ocngressmen and senators in the House there are 270 congressmen and only 23 senators, 293 in total. 3/4′s of the votes need 220 votes. See the majority in there?

The House states for the HR 1109 that:

• “1. The term of office of the incumbent president and vice president shall not be extended.”
• “2. The term of office of senators, congressmen, governors, mayors and other officials whose term of office will expire in 2010 shall not be extended.”

The is the defense of those who voted for the HR 1109 that terms of the current government administration will not be extended.