Cordillera congressmen at odds on Charter change

CORDILLERA congressional representatives are at odds on revising the 1987 Constitution.

 Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog, senior lawmaker and lawyer, said a constitutional convention is better because revisions will be made to the 1987 Constitution, and not mere amendments. 

 “We need people, through the con-con, who will focus on the details of the overhaul of the Constitution.” With the revisions expected to lead to a shift to a federal form of government, he said, “there are many contentious issues that need focus.” 

 Dalog said Congress cannot merely transform itself as a constituent assembly because it has to earn credibility with the result of the revisions to be introduced or “it will have a difficulty in the ratification by the people.” 

 He added social acceptability of the proposed revisions is important. 

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said the panel that will propose constitutional changes needs to have a “more multi-sectoral representation.” 

The solon, who had been questioning election of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as minority floor leader despite getting fewer votes than he did, said “political reform such as a stronger anti-political dynasty provision and a reform of the party-list system have better chances of being legislated by a con-con than at the hands of the congressmen and senators.”

A con-con, he added, “will also give us more time to concentrate on other priority bills like the Freedom of Information [and] Income Tax Reform and deliberate adequately on controversial bills like the death penalty and lowering age of criminality for juvenile delinquents.”

In a constitutional convention, delegates will have to be elected, which, proponents of the constituent assembly path say will cost more and will take more time.

 Third-termer Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, also a lawyer said, “any method will do as long as it is credible in the eyes of the Filipino people.”

'Kalinga Rep. Jesse Mangaoang, a neophyte lawmaker, prefers a con-con, but added, “it is more expensive and has a longer route.” 

 To effect change immediately, he said, “a less expensive route to do it with the same results, I would go for con-ass.” 

He added, however, that “we just need to have the people trust us.”

 Baguio Rep. Marquez Go, also a neophyte lawmaker said, he is rooting for con-ass. “This is the most expedient, judicious and cost-effective way to amend our Constitution.”  

The cost of a con-con, he said, is around P7 billion, and “can already be allocated to social services like schools and hospitals.”

 Suspicions of hidden agendas in the charter change, Go said, “could be addressed by including in the resolution converting Congress into a constituent assembly the specific articles to be amended.”

Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos, also a neophyte congressman and a member of the administration PDP-Laban, is keen on toeing the administration’s con-ass line for quicker changes.

“It will redound to the benefit of the people anyway,” he said.