Solons pushing for ConAs?
Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. said several congressmen belonging to the Kampi party are initiating a signature campaign to support a constitutional assembly (ConAs) in order to change the Philippine Constitution. This is contrary to the recent stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Gonzalez did not identify who among the members of the Lower House have initiated such move. However, if he is to be asked, he would rather want to change the constitution through a constitutional convention.
In the constitutional assembly, the present lawmakers would automatically make up the commission that will change the system of government from presidential to parliamentary. A constitutional convention gives the people the privilege of electing members of the commission that would amend the charter.
Gonzalez however said it needs much budget for the government to institute a constitutional convention to change the constitution. It needs billions of pesos to go into a constitutional convention and the government is facing a budget deficit right now.
Of the two processes, the constitutional convention is far better choice to amend the constitution. He lamented that those who previously framed the constitution were only named by former President Cory Aquino and not chosen by the people. The same reason why loopholes are noted in the charter.
The solon also said he does not only want to amend the Constitution but to change its entirety. This will bring and give the people a better kind of charter to guide the Filipino people and the leaders for governance.
Last year, President Arroyo created the Constitutional Commission to conduct public consultations in the different parts of the country. The discussions centered on the shift of parliamentary form of government, change from unitary structures to autonomous territories or federal states and liberalization of economy.