House of Representatives warned vs forcing Charter change

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Lawmakers rushing the crafting of a constitution for a federal government are inviting public wrath, the chairman of the Senate panel on Charter change initiatives has warned.

“Why force it? It seems there are some who are bent on pursuing term extension,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, told Bombo Radyo Dagupan yesterday.

He said limiting discussions on the issue to 30 days is unacceptable.

“No railroading, no fast break, no bullet train,” Pangilinan said in Filipino.

Pangilinan said the hearing last Wednesday was a good starting point for the public and parties involved to examine the pros and cons of changing the Constitution as a means to create a federal form of government.

He said similar hearings would be conducted in other parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. His committee, he said, will work out the mechanics for public discussions outside Metro Manila.

“The committee will have to make this as participatory, not only for the members of the committee, but also for our citizens,” Pangilinan said.

He said any amendments to the Constitution must factor in the issues of livelihood and economy and not just term extension of incumbent officials.

With the discussions on Charter change driving a wedge between the Senate and the House, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri is urging the leaders of both chambers to sit down and discuss how to break the impasse.

“For the record, I am in favor of Cha-cha. I am a federalist because I am from Mindanao but I also fully support the Senate’s stand that we should be voting separately,” he said.

“Any talk of abolishing this 100-year-old institution, which assures checks and balances in government, will not be taken lightly by members of the Senate,” Zubiri stressed.

The senators’ firm stand was highlighted by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s threatening last Wednesday to have senators who would agree to joint voting expelled from the chamber.

Yesterday, Lacson said he was just exaggerating to make a point but stressed “such a grave offense of betraying the Senate as an institution should be meted the maximum penalty of dismissal.”

“Attending a joint session of the House without authorization from the Senate is downright idiotic if not reprehensible, especially if done with malicious intent,” he said.

Senate con-ass

Lacson has filed a resolution calling on the Senate to convene as a constituent assembly (con-ass) to propose amendments to the Constitution.

Under Lacson’s resolution, the Senate would vote on the amendments and then transmit the result to the House for its concurrence, just like an ordinary bill.

Legal and constitutional experts who attended the hearing of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments last Wednesday welcomed Lacson’s filing of the resolution.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, who is among the principal proponents of the shift to federalism, said the Senate should let the process move forward by continuing the hearings on Charter change “with full transparency and at a reasonable pace.”

Some senators, however, are not convinced that Charter change or a shift to federalism is necessary at this time.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto argued that there are “real issues” needing attention like the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and rising prices of goods and that Cha-cha will only serve as a distraction.

“Cha-cha will not solve the problems of Juan dela Cruz and may even make things worse,” Recto said.

Sen. Grace Poe said there is a need to first determine the real motive of Charter change proponents.

“Federalism is not a magic pill to address all of our country’s problems. If we want to strengthen local autonomy, some issues are better addressed through amending the Local Government Code,” Poe pointed out.

“We need stronger institutions, not strongmen. We should enact the Freedom of Information and Anti-Dynasty bills in order to ensure meaningful participation of people in government, with or without federalism,” she said.

“Second, a review of the economic provisions of the Constitution is needed as we must encourage more investments to achieve economic growth. But this can also be done in the meantime by amending the Public Services Act,” she added.

Sen. Richard Gordon said they should determine first if there’s really a need to change the Constitution before engaging in debates over the mode of changing it.

“We should tarry a little because the people should be front and center of making changes to the Charter because the Constitution is for the people,” Gordon said.

“Let us find out if there is a need to amend. Is there a need to reinvent ourselves? As I have said, what this country needs is not just a change of men, but a change in men,” he added.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, for his part, said that any move to amend the Constitution would not succeed if the public does not trust the process and the people behind it.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo is also pushing for more public hearings on the proposals to amend the Constitution.

Robredo also lauded the Senate for inviting constitutional experts to last Wednesday’s hearing.

“I hope that the Senate will be an avenue for us to know each and every provision of the Constitution that they want to replace,” she told reporters in Filipino at an event in Muntinlupa City. – Marvin Sy, Janvic Mateo