House revives proposal to amend Constitution

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III’s allies on Sunday vowed to push economic amendments to the Constitution, saying now was the time to do it because the President had given his assurance he did not plan to stay in power beyond his six-year term.

The lawmakers, led by Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, a member of the Liberal Party, want Congress to have the election of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention that will change the Charter coincide with the 2013 senatorial elections.

They say the Constitution must be amended to remove its protectionist provisions and replace them with provisions that will make the Philippines attractive to investors.

“With President Aquino’s declaration that he will not run for public office in 2016, this is the best time to start the national debate on [Charter change],” Evardone said.

“All present members of Congress, the Senate and local government executives should not benefit from [Charter change], particularly the extension of [their] terms.”

The House leadership and the President’s fellow Liberals say they do not see any reason to block any moves to amend the Constitution, but the idea should be “studied more carefully.”

“There are merits to it, but let us study the issue more carefully,” House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told the Manila Standard.

Evardone says the lawmakers are pushing for Charter change by passing a bill calling for an election of delegates to a Constitutional Convention that will amend the Charter.

“We want [the Constitutional Convention] to focus on economic provisions that will promote investments and generate employment,” Evardone said.

“[Charter change] is not one of the priorities of the Aquino administration,” House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said.

“It depends what mode will be pushed. If it will be a [Constituent Assembly], it will have a difficult time passing. If [it’s a Constitutional Convention], it may pass. The Con-Con proposal will just go through the regular process in both chambers.”

Tañada, a Liberal party whip, says he does not see the House leadership blocking the passage of a bill calling for Constitutional Convention elections.

The Liberal Party had issued a “party position” that Charter change would be entertained only after the 2010 automated polls that saw Mr. Aquino winning the presidency. –Christine F. Herrera, Manila Standard Today