People are becoming very vocal in their suspicions that the contentious Memorandum of Agreement on ancestral domain was really nothing but just another ploy to push for Charter Change, couched today under less offensive words like “federalization” and “federalism.” Even FVR, who launched the first attempt to change the charter in what was widely believed as a maneuver to seek another term, has expressed his objection over the idea saying it would be counterproductive to do so at this time.
FVR has obviously learned his lesson when he and his allies tried to lift the constitutional ban on his reelection through the “people’s initiative” or PIRMA – which was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 1997 under Chief Justice Andres Narvasa due to the lack of an enabling law to push the proposed revisions.
Everyone who is against moves to amend the Constitution all say the timing is suspect due to the wide perception that GMA is using the issue to extend her term. Malacañang’s sudden announcement that it was supporting Senate Resolution No. 10 – which proposes the creation of 11 federal states through a constituent assembly – caught people by surprise, including the senators who have expressed support for the resolution.
In the first place, all the presidentiables will be against Cha-Cha today because it will disrupt their plans and derail their chances in the 2010 presidential elections. Kiko Pangilinan has already promised the Senate will “vigorously oppose Cha-Cha” if the administration persists in pushing it before the 2010 elections. Manny Villar has also expressed skepticism over Malacañang’s motives, stressing that Resolution 10 is still pending and will have to go through debates first.
Other senators, namely Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Dick Gordon, Pong Biazon as well as Alan and Pia Cayetano have vowed to block Cha-Cha. In any case, GMA will need the concurrence of three fourths of the Senate – or 18 senators – to pass any proposal for a constituent assembly. On the other hand, it will only take six senators to kill it – and from the way things look, the numbers are with the opposition.
Although we have been advocating Charter Change – especially the outdated protectionist economic provisions in the Constitution – this should be done in a careful and deliberate manner. There should be a wide range of debates between the senators who support Cha-Cha and those who are against it. People have the right to know and understand what the proposed amendments are and how they could impact their lives and that of their children.
Nene Pimentel, who is the principal author of the resolution, is taking the right initiative by going to the provinces to disseminate information about the shift to federalism and to avoid confusion by explaining to people what this federal system is all about. Even if it would take a long time for people to fully comprehend what charter change will entail, Nene said he is prepared to wait in order for Filipinos to understand how such moves could affect them politically and economically.
Amending the constitution and shifting to another form of government that would be most appropriate to the needs and the temperament of the Filipino should not be done with undue haste and with the purpose and objectives clearly outlined. A lot of people suspect that the sudden move to push Charter Change once again is obviously to accommodate certain sectors in Mindanao to the detriment of other affected parties. All that secrecy and the hush-hush in drafting the MOA is making people even more apprehensive and distrustful.
While it’s true that initiatives must be taken to correct the defects of our present charter, it should not be done in a fast-track manner. Suspicions should also be removed that GMA is just riding on the ancestral domain issue and using the war in Mindanao to perpetuate her hold on the presidency. Let’s face it, one reason why we are in this state of confusion today regarding the Constitution is due to the fact that the 1987 charter was done in haste, with knee-jerk reactions taking over due diligence and meticulousness in determining the soundness of certain provisions.
Constitutional amendments must be focused on the long-term consequences rather than short term outcomes. Any fast-track operation will potentially result in loopholes and ambiguity that could only bring confusion and trouble in the future. Instead of doing a ‘mambo jambo,” the government must take the right Cha-Cha steps.
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Email: babe_tcb@yahoo.com