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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) President Rodrigo Duterte’s wish of amending the Constitution to abolish party-list groups allegedly supportive of the communist movement does not sit well with some lawmakers and political analysts.
Duterte in a November 2020 meeting with lawmakers “suggested” that constitutional provisions on the party-list system be changed, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has disclosed. Duterte believes party-list lawmakers, particularly those from the minority Makabayan bloc, are legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army. The Makabayan bloc has decried this red-tagging.
This allegation should not lead to charter change, Michael Yusingco, legislative and policy consultant, told CNN Philippines. Amending the constitution must come from a thorough and rational discussion of reasons.
CALOOCAN CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA) A senior official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday described as timely and wise Congress decision to resume deliberations on proposals to amend the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution and to convene both Houses of Congress as a constituent assembly.
“The resumption of Congressional deliberations on Constitutional Reform (CORE) is both timely and wise,” DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.
“Congress has passed Bayanihan I and Bayanihan II and even extended its validity for 1 more year. It also passed the 2021 GAA which allocated funds for vaccine procurement and a more robust Covid response. Congress has done its job to battle the pandemic. It’s now time for Congress to work on long-term reform which is CORE,” he added.
House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairperson Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Friday assured the public that Charter change (Cha-cha) discussions will be fair and transparent.
Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite are convinced that the real reason behind the sudden efforts to revive Charter change in Congress is to allow for term extension for politicians.
Removing the party-list system in the 1987 Constitution will not address the problem of communist rebellion in the country but would only deprive the poor and the marginalized of representation in Congress.