Con-Com eyes educational requirement for aspiring lawmakers

MANILA, Philippines — Aspiring lawmakers may need a "college degree or equivalent" to become a member of Congress under the proposed federal system, after a subcommittee of experts tasked with reviewing the 1987 Constitution approved the proposed requirement.

According to Reynato Puno, chairman of the Consultative Committee, the objective of the planned enforcement of educational qualification for legislators is to "improve the quality of law" from Congress.

Puno noted that the Con-Com subcommittee voted to add this requirement despite some members saying such a proposal is "anti-democratic," as it supposedly limits the right of some Filipinos to run for an elective post.

"Right now, if you look at the members of Congress, the House and the Senate, you will find out that there are very few who lack the college degree,” he said.

“So, in effect, the committee recommendation is just an affirmation of the vote of the people in the past," he added.

The Con-Com en banc will decide on the proposal once it convenes after the Easter week.

The 1987 Constitution does not require elective officials to be college degree holders.

Under the present charter, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives must be natural-born citizens who are able to read and write, among other requirements.

In 2013, the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago pushed for revisions on the Constitution that would impose academic qualifications for elected officials.

The switch to a federal system was one of the key planks of Duterte's election campaign, along with his deadly war on drugs.