No change after Edsa and no Cha-Cha so far

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY --- Exactly 37 years ago today, thousands of people trooped to Edsa after hearing a day earlier on February 24, 1986 an erroneous news aired from a morning radio that then President Marcos and family had left Malacanang for Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
    It was the biggest fake news that had the wicked intention to magnetize people towards Edsa, make it a center of focus and stir up a little revolution. The planners were quite successful with that, although in a country under confusion, what everybody else wanted was peace.
    Feeling that finally it was over and there would be peace after all, crowds flocked to Manila, not to have a revolution but to join the biggest picnic at Edsa. It was a gathering of uncontrolled crowds that made American allies convince Marcos to leave for the USA.
    In public offices all over the country, including Malacanang, government workers and officials in high places looted government property, bringing home furniture, office supplies, refrigerators, electric fans, kitchen utensils and even cars. Many of these workers were reappointed to their posts or were saved by civil service rules.
Since it was first celebrated in 1987 until today and after having two Aquino presidents, Edsa had not found the killer of Ninoy. It brought the Filipinos nothing but disunity and disagreements. Might as well forget about celebrating it.
    Up until now, some factions celebrated the so-called Edsa People Power even when a majority of them were not present during the original event. Not even Tita Cory and family were there because they were hiding in Cebu.
    When then Defense Minister Enrile told Cory to “just pray” when the latter called to ask what she can do prior to the looming crisis, it confirmed that the Aquinos were nowhere at Edsa, contrary to what were fed to many of our younger generation.
    The Cojuangco-Aquino family was not at Edsa but the people power event was foolishly rumored as their own. Just to make things clear, they benefited from the Edsa event that granted positions in government to their political and financial supporters. Look at us after 37 years.
    Flying back to Manila from Cebu to prepare for the takeover of the government, Cory Aquino was sworn in as the 11th president of the Philippines on February 25, 1986. An hour after her oath-taking, President Marcos held his own inauguration ceremony at the Malacañang Palace.
    Cory’s team acted quickly. In April 1986, she appointed 45 people to the 1986 Constitutional Commission, rather than having them elected to draft a new constitution. At least five slots were allotted to Marcos affiliates.     The ConCom held its first session on June 2, 1986.
    Just four months later on October 12, 1986; the quickest constitution ever to be crafted on earth was approved by the ConCom and presented to Cory three days later. A plebiscite ratified it on February 2, 1987.
    Nine days later on February 11, 1987; a reactionary charter prepared by people chosen by Tita Cory to amend the 1973 Philippine Constitution according to her wishes was proclaimed in force in our midst as the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Today, the charter cannot even meet the changes in technology and modern day living.
    In 1987, Cory’s government unceremoniously replaced all incumbent and duly elected local officials from the governor down to the last councilor with OICs (officers-in-charge). Such a move triggered disappointment towards her government. However, these stories could be told altogether in another column in the future.
    I heard President Marcos Jr. reacting to his men in Congress saying that charter change or amending the charter is not a priority. It could be that he thinks foreigners would still invest in the country without amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
    This could be his reason after nine official trips yielded P3.48 trillion in investment pledges, evenwhile worldwide data had shown that among 84 countries, the Philippines ranked third among the most restrictive countries in terms of foreign direct investments (FDIs).
    Because of that report, foreign chambers of commerce and industries are urging President BBM to get rid of the restrictive and outdated provisions of the 1987 Constitution. They hope the worldwide data convinces him of the need to amend the economic provisions of the charter.
    Other parts in the 1987 Constitution that need to be removed are the provisions on the multi-party system and the party-list organizations providing for representation in Congress which are inconsistent with each other.
    The party-list system that represents the marginalized sector allowed the participation of the Left, the Right and Middle, including the rich and other unnecessary sectors. That is why we have a strange Republican government system that allows a multi-party system that can only happen under a Parliamentary system.
    Then those who are against Cha-Cha are raising the same arguments, other than supporting particular changes, while others are again saying that the timing is not right because there are so many issues that we should prioritize.
    The timing was not right during the terms of former Presidents Ramos, Erap Estrada, GM Arroyo and Noynoy Aquino. Then again, people are saying we have a “Marcos” as president in the person of Bongbong Marcos Jr. So, not during his time.
    Then there are certain members of Cory’s ConCom who claim that the 1987 charter that they crafted hastily is actually a perfect constitution with provisions that were not implemented because there are no legislations enacted to implement them.
    One of Cory’s men in her ConCom even argued that we have been electing the same political candidates because Congress failed to pass laws to implement the Anti-Political Dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution.
However, we should learn that in many past congresses, records showed that anti-political dynasty bills were proposed but these were snubbed or were not seriously taken for consideration.
    I think that however people shout at the top of their voices to complain about life, critical proposals in congress will never pass unless we amend the 1987 Constitution provisions on electing officials, and remove the mixed party-list and multi-party system.
    What we are facing are problems in the economy and in electing our leaders under a political system that we have to change. But as long as we choose our politicians under the present system, we will be electing the same people and we may no longer improve our laws.
    And so, if we keep on allowing the reason that it is not the right time to amend or change the charter, then we will never be able to change our Constitution. We are stuck forever.