DAGUPAN CITY — Speaker Jose de Venecia may yet find his hands full when he comes home to this city after text messages started circulating Saturday accusing him of “gross misrepresentation of his constituents” in pushing for a Senate-less constituent assembly (con-ass) to amend the Constitution.
“Pls…wil smobdy file recall procedngs vs jdv, 4 gross msrepresnttion of hs consttuents re con ass. hes a shame being a dagupeno!PLS PASS,” the text message, which was also received by most city government officials, said.
But Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who confirmed having received the message, quickly dismissed it as a joke.
“Joke lang yon. I also got that one,” Cruz said.
Mayor Benjamin Lim said that the text message was an indication that the people are disappointed with the Speaker.
“The Speaker should realize that. He should consult first his constituents before doing any move,” Lim said.
Pangasinan’s fourth district, where De Venecia has been three-term congressman before his defeat in the 1998 presidential elections, is composed of this city and the towns of Manaoag, San Fabian, Mangaldan and San Jacinto.
City Administrator Rafael Baraan said that the message was an expression of people’s indignation against De Venecia.
“Our congressmen are supposed to represent the sentiments and interests of their constituents, not their personal interests. For that matter, all Con-ass (supporters) should be recalled for gross misrepresentation of their constituents,” Baraan said.
He added that all those whom he forwarded the text message responded to him to express support
De Venecia cannot be immediately reached for comment.
But Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, a staunch De Venecia ally, said that the text message simply represents “freedom of speech.”
“Let the texter present his case and facts. Otherwise, it is (just) another tactless expression of feelings designed to start a hate campaign,” Fernandez said.
“A representative is given the opportunity to represent the people of his district. Is the person attacking the Speaker from the 4th district? Let the person texting lay down the basis of his attack. Let the texter surface and make his message in public personally,” he added.
But recalling De Venecia may not be possible, after all.
Dagupan City Commission on Elections chief Remarque Ravanzo said that under the Local Government Code, only local officials may be subjected to recall proceedings.
“A congressman, although elected in a district, is a national official,” Ravanzo said.
