President Duterte warned that he would shut down Congress if lawmakers will fool around with the Filipino people in amending the Constitution.

The President also promised that he will be watching closely to make sure that lawmakers will do their work properly and not use Charter change (Cha-cha) to craft provisions of law they may later abuse.

Senate and House leaders have agreed to meet next week to attempt to reach an agreement on the proposed convening of the constituent assembly (Con-Ass) and the manner by which each chamber will vote on proposed amendments, according to House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas as he aired the possibility of a temporary suspension of regular lawmaking to allow Congress to concentrate on its job as a constituent assembly.

“Ang kanilang product will have to be submitted to us for a plebiscite and for all the time that they’ll be crafting a new Constitution, I am here,” Duterte said.

“So do not be afraid of whatever method that they would use because your guarantee is ako,” he likewise stated, adding that lawmakers can choose between doing their job properly or face closure of Congress.

The President reiterated his position favoring a Con-ass as the mode to revise the Charter.

In his speech during a courtesy call of the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) delegates in Malacañang, Duterte acknowledged that many sectors have issues about Con-Ass.

He then called on the public not to be too judgmental about the members of congress, saying that: “You can tell by the track records that they have…they have been elected, re-elected, re-elected.”

“If ang acceptability nila sa tao ganun, so who are we to judge that they are not competent?” he added.

The President had earlier stressed that he would ensure that the changes to the Charter would truly be responsive to the people’s will, and that he will not allow a Constitution that is anti-Filipino.

“Sabihan ko talaga sila (lawmakers) huwag iyan kasi pag pinilit ninyo iyan, sasarahan ko itong Congress, huhulihin ko kayo lahat,” he added. The President was apparently referring to lawmakers who would push for their personal interests in the amendment of the Constitution.

Duterte also promised to destroy the country’s oligarchs who are embedded in government.

He particularly cited business tycoon and former Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin, whom he said has benefitted from former presidents.

“My order is: destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government now. I’ll give you an example, publicly,” Duterte said and went on to name Ongpin.

“Malakas kay (Ferdinand) Marcos noon, trade minister, I think. Then malakas siya sa succession. (During) Ramos he was a hanger on, then kay Gloria (Arroyo), PNoy (Aquino). Now he owns the online (gambling),” the President said.

And according to Duterte, these are the people who just sit in their planes, in their mansions, and money comes in.

“Sabi ko: Destroy,” said the President.

Upon his assumption to office, Duterte declared that online gambling must stop. And heeding the President’s order, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) revoked at least dozens of online gaming licenses.

Reports indicate that the Ongpin-led Philweb Corp. had been adversely affected by Duterte’s directive.

VP FOR CON-CON

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo is one with President Rodrigo Duterte on charter change, but she favors constitutional convention (Con-Con) than constituent assembly (Con-Ass).

Explaining her choice on the mode of amending the Constitution, Robredo said she “ideally” prefers Con-con because of “people participation.”

“If we really want people’s participation and to concentrate on the job of amending the Constitution, Con-Con is better,” she told reporters before she departed for a week-long trip to the United States.

Robredo, who was a once a congresswoman in Camarines Sur, noted that the Con-Ass “is over and above the regular duties of the members of Congress.”

STUNTING GROWTH

For his part, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the current highly-centralized or unitary form of government that began in the Spanish colonial era up to the American occupation and until the Philippines became a Republic in 1946 has stunted economic development.

Since all power belonged to “Imperial Manila,” the situation heightened tensions among the people in the impoverished areas of the archipelago, particularly in the Moro-dominated areas of Mindanao, Pimentel said.

These issues, among others, were explained by Pimentel and his father, former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., founder of the pro-administration PDP-Laban party, and other speakers during the Senate’s Centennial Lecture Series on Federalism held at the Senate building yesterday.

President Duterte and the Pimentel father-and-son tandem, have been pushing for amendments to the 1987 Constitution, particularly during the recent political campaign leading to the May 9, 2016 presidential elections.

The Pimentels’ PDP-Laban party has been an advocate of federalism since the 80s.

CONGRESS LEADERS MEET

Fariñas revealed that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the Senate President will lead lawmakers in the meeting set on Tuesday at an undisclosed place.

Fariñas said both chambers will try to settle the Cha-cha issues, foremost of which is whether or not either or both can raise the needed votes to convene Congress into a constituent assembly that will overhaul the 1987 Constitution.

At the same time, he chided the House independent bloc for assailing the constituent assembly proposal by insisting that a constitutional convention should be the mode of amending the Charter.

“There are only a few of them.  They want inaction by paralysis,” he said.

The House official rejected the claim of the bloc headed by Rep. Teddy Baguilat (LP, Ifugao) that a Con-Ass is limited to introduction of amendments to certain articles and not a complete revision.

“That is not correct.  The constitution provides that any amendment or revision may be made by Congress or the second option, by constitutional convention.  It is Congress that decide whether Con-Con or Con-Ass,” he stressed.

One of the top legal minds in the Lower House, Farinas said it is clear in the 1987 Constitution that a constituent assembly can push to amend or revise the Charter through 3/4 vote.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Elena L. Aben, Raymund F. Antonio, Mario B. Casayuran, And Ben R. Rosario

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]