But data from Congress e-mailed me, sender unknown, showed Monico is one of the 10 Congressmen who each filed a bill, he as a principal author for a Constituent Assembly. Six filed for the Constitutional Convention.

If Monico lied or was not candid, he will explain that. But, I am happy is he is now for ConCon. Never mind what he did before that.

Monico’s bill was the only one that contained the word “immediately” in the convening of the Con-Ass.

It was filed on July 13, 2005 and the first reading was on July 26, 2005. The status of the bill is now pending in the committee.

He reiterated many times and in a presscon last December that “from the beginning this issue came about,” he has been supporting Con-Con as the mode of Charter Change.

* * *

But Congressional records show one of the 178 co-authors of the so-called Jaraula Resolution of Rep. Constantino Jaraula on April 25, 2006 was Rep. Puentevella. All these are public records that can be downloaded from the official website of the House of Representatives.

Why he changed position, he owes his constituents an explanation, why he keeps on saying he is for Con-Con when the records show he authored a bill for Con-Ass.

How did he come to that decision?

To me, there is no problem. Only fools do not change their mind. No one is perfect. We improve through change. This shows Monico can also change his mind on his Right of Reply bill.

One of these days, he might announce he is withdrawing authorship of his RoR bill because he saw the light. Apologizing may not suit him but withdrawal of his bill is enough.

Apologizing also for his blocking, harassing, and even to the extent of persuading President GMA not to come to the Government Center is too much. But, if he withdraws his statement of not setting foot at the Center, if he gets elected as mayor will make him a bigger man. If he does not and he sets foot there, it will make him a big fool.

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I said, I like Monico for his conversion from Con-Ass to Con-Con. What led him to this conversion?

I would like to make a conjecture by thinking his conversion is like the conversion of that well known Pharisee, persecutor of the Christians, Saul, who later became Paul, the best Apostle.

Saul was on the road to Damascus to persecute more Christians when a bright light blinded him. And he heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” The voice was that of Jesus Christ.

I am not very good in the Bible but the blinded Saul was brought to the house of Ananias who nursed him.

When he saw the light after days of losing his sight and thinking deeply and repenting on his persecuting the Christians, he was converted to serve Christ as Apostle Paul who did the most conversions by traveling all over.

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What led to the conversion of Monico from Con-Ass to Con-Con, I would like to believe it parallels that of Saul.

On the road to Bacolod, a blinding light must have struck him too and a voice told him, “Monico, Monico, why do you persecute me?” The voice was that of his people. The voice must have mentioned “Why Con-Ass? Why not Con-Con, Monico?”

And he went to the house of Ananias who looked like Brother Rolly Dizon. And Ananias told him, “See the light, Monico. See the light.” And Monico saw the light.

I hope on his road to Bacolod again, Monico will hear the voice of Evangelist Paul to change his stand on his Right of Reply bill.

Paul was an evangelist, a prolific letter writer, was a journalist of his time. And Paul will tell him, “Monico, Monico, why do you persecute me?” If he seeks the help of Ananias, I am sure he will get a very good advice.

Call him names if you want for not being candid he filed a bill for Con-Ass, but now claiming to be for Con-Con. For me his conversion is important, hoping for another conversion on his RoR bill.

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Talking of conversion, Comelec Regional Director Dennis Ausan also needs conversion. He is not candid. He said, he had nothing to do with the planned transfer of Bacolod Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon. But there is that letter of his as a proof.

The work of Comelec chairman Jose Melo to win back the trust and confidence of the public in Comelec is being negated by Ausan.

Ausan is, in effect, hinting it was politicians who influenced Comelec in Manila. Bad for Comelec, bad for Melo. I don’t think so, until there are proofs. All the winners in 2007 are grateful for Majarucon who made the election clean and honest.

What will destroy Comelec is when professionalism is not recognized.*

by Primo Esleyer VisayanDailyStar