‘Consultative committee’s federal charter not yet doomed’

CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines — The former spokesman for the defunct consultative committee (Concom) on Charter change remains hopeful on a shift to federalism despite the House of Representatives’ approval of its own “horrible version.”

Guesting at a recent forum of the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) here, Ding Generoso disclosed President Duterte never passed on to Congress the draft charter prepared by the 22 members of the Concom headed by former chief justice Reynato Puno.

Noting that the Concom draft was submitted to Malacañang back in July 17, Generoso noted in an interview with The STAR that the President might have decided to ignore it because he knew it would not have enough support at the Senate.

Generoso noted that at least 18 senators would be needed for the adoption of the draft, but a count of his supporters in the Senate revealed this number could not be reached.

He said he was against the House version for ignoring the significant highlights of the Concom proposal, including the explicit prohibition on political dynasties.

The House version has come to be known as the Arroyo-proposed charter as Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is known to have pushed for it.

But the Senate declared it would definitely junk the Arroyo version.

Arroyo, however, expressed hope that the House draft could be considered by the 18th Congress.

The same sentiment was aired by Generoso, but he referred to the Concom version.

At the forum, he said there are no impediments that would prevent Duterte from endorsing the Puno committee version to members of the 18th Congress.

Generoso said he will no longer represent the Concom as he already filed his certificate of candidacy for senator under the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi political party for the 2019 elections.