Consultative Committee votes for presidential-federal system

MANILA, Philippines — The Consultative Committee that President Rodrigo Duterte convened to look into constitutional changes yesterday voted to propose a presidential-federal system similar to that of the United States.

According to a GMA News report, 11 of the 20-member Con-com voted for the presidential-federal system that former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. put forward while seven voted for a semi-presidential-federal system that De La Salle University’s Dr. Julio Cabral Teehankee suggested.  Two members were absent during the proceedings.

“The President in our presidential system has all the powers to hold together the federal units,” Con-com chairman former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said. “I reserve my right to reconfigure this powers of the President in order to adjust these powers to the needs and necessities of our time.”

The Con-com deliberated for eight hours on which system of government to propose. Aside from the presidential-federal and the semi-presidential-federal systems, the Westminster system was also voted on after being suggested by Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law.

The system similar to that of the United Kingdom provides for a parliament, whose members will elect a Prime Minister as head of government. It will have a President but only as a figurehead.

According to the GMA report, the initial voting had the presidential-federal and semi-presidential-federal systems both getting eight votes. The Westminster only got one.

Puno, as chair, didn’t vote in the first voting.

Under the presidential-federal system, the electorate will still elect a President but some of his or her powers will be devolved among the proposed 12 federal regions.

Pimentel also proposed educational qualifications for those who want to run for public office, a provision that is not present in the 1987 Constitution.

A semi-presidential-federal system provides for a President and a Prime Minister that will share executive powers.