House panel endorses constitutional convention

MANILA, Philippines – The committee on constitutional amendments of the House of Representatives voted 6-1 and approved a resolution allowing the election of delegates for a constitutional convention (con-con) simultaneous with the May 2010 elections.

Panel chairman Rep. Victor Ortega of La Union told reporters, however, that electing con-con delegates to amend the Charter in time for next year’s presidential polls could not be attained because of time constraints. He said this could be done instead in the October 2010 barangay elections.

Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, whose Liberal Party is in favor of a con-con in 2010, said there is no conflict, even if this coincides with the polls.

“I don’t think there will be confusion. There can be a separate ballot for the con-con.”

“Technically, there is no controversial provision except for sectoral representation. We left that section out first. We discussed the other sections first. So far, so good,” he told newsmen.

Ortega said they would discuss the implementing guidelines, including how to elect the sectoral representatives, in the next hearing on Sept. 8.

Tañada said they are contemplating the election of six sectoral representatives for every region. If approved, there will be 303 delegates to the constitutional convention. There are 219 legislative districts and 14 regions.

“Whereas, calling for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the Constitution is the least divisive and the most transparent, exhaustive and democratic means of implementing constitutional reforms, among the three modes of amending the Constitution as provided under Sections 1 and 2, Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution,” a portion of the concurrent resolution read.

“Whereas, to dispel fears of promoting any vested interests among the incumbent elected officials and to defray the cost of a separate election for delegates to the constitutional convention, it shall be conducted simultaneously with the May 10, 2010 elections. The process of amending the Constitution shall only take place thereafter,” it added.

Comelec rejects House panel plan

The Commission on Elections will not accede to the plan of the congressmen because electing delegates to a constitutional convention simultaneous to the May 2010 presidential election will just confuse voters.

Commissioner Elias Yusoph told the House committee on constitutional amendments led by Rep. Ortega last week that they are not keen on the proposal, because con-con delegates “will be elected by districts, which is also the same way a congressman is elected.”

“If we include the list of candidates for con-con delegates, it (the list in the ballot) will be very long. The people will be confused whom to choose – either a delegate (of con-con) or a congressman,” he told the panel.

He said the voters will have a hard time choosing because voters will be presented with about 600 names in the front and back of each ballot.

Yusoph made the categorical answer upon the query posed by Rep. Tañada.

It would be another story though, if and when a law is enacted to that effect, mandating the election of con-con delegates to the May 2010 polls, because they will be forced to comply with their ministerial duty.

Yusoph said aside from its impracticality, he also cited the lack of material time, especially at this point where the poll body is too busy with preparations for the presidential polls, the first automated polls in Philippine history.

Comelec has been “swamped” with applications for accreditations of some 247 party-list groups, noting that the deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy will end on Nov. 30 and the printing of ballots on Jan. 27 next year.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, who visited the hearing, revealed that con-con will be their second option should Resolution 1109 – the constituent assembly bill without the participation of the Senate – fail.

“We’ll have a decision before the end of the month, before we start discussions on the (proposed 2010) national budget,” he said. An all-party caucus may be convened either today or anytime within the week.

Proponents need the approval of 179 members of the 268-man chamber. The con-con proposals also include those filed by Reps. Joseph Emilio Abaya of Cavite, Antonio Cuenco of Cebu and Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa.

The Ortega committee earlier junked the proposal of Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez who wanted a referendum to coincide with the May 2010 elections to find out if the people really want charter change or not.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte said the imposition of the election of delegates to the con-con concurrently with the election of national and local candidates in the May 2010 general elections “will overburden Comelec.”

He said the poll body would have extreme difficulties pushing for the implementation of the automation of elections of president, vice president, senators, congressmen and all other local officials. –-Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) with Jess Diaz