Duterte prefers con-con over con-ass

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte prefers to amend the Constitution through constitutional convention (con-con) rather than through a constituent assembly to allow experts to provide inputs, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Duterte also believes that a constitutional convention would dispel notions that he might impose his will on congressional allies who would form part of the constituent assembly. 

Members of the con-con can either be elected or appointed. While con-con delegates can come from various sectors including academe, a constituent assembly is composed of all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“He (Duterte) would prefer a constitutional convention than a constituent assembly,” Suarez told reporters in an interview yesterday. 

“He said he doesn’t want to be accused of dictating (on lawmakers). He said a con-con is better (because) there would be a clear exchange of views and (allow us) to explore the minds of constitutionalists,” Suarez added.

The plan to amend the Charter was among the issues tackled during Duterte’s meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night at the Malacañang of the South in Barangay Panacan.

Suarez was one of the lawmakers present during the meeting, which was also attended by some incoming officials of the Duterte administration. 

Davao City first district Rep. Karlo Nograles told The STAR that Duterte only asked for support from the lawmakers in the pursuit of his plans. “There was no discussion of political parties.”

“The president-elect also told us that he would not meddle in the affairs of Congress as he considers it a separate branch of government,” he added.

Duterte has been pushing for amendments to the 1987 Constitution to change the form of government from unitary to federal. He has also expressed readiness to amend some economic provisions to lure more foreign investments. 

Suarez said the convening of the con-con can be done as soon as possible as it would serve as the “initial stage” for federalism.

“He thinks that federalism can be attained on the fourth year (of his presidency). He hopes it can be done before he ends his term,” Suarez said. 

“He said that without federalism, you cannot contain the problems in Mindanao. That’s the only solution,” the lawmaker added. 

Since the Philippine government is unitary, much of its decisions and policies emerge from the central government in Manila. Once the government is transformed into a federal one, power is expected to be shared between Malacañang and local state governments.

Each country has its own version of federalism but in general, the system allowed local state governments to impose taxes, create and enforce regulations on businesses, build infrastructure and establish courts. Countries that have adopted the federal system include the United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, Mexico and India.

Supporters of federalism claim that the system would promote development in the countryside and reduce the concentration of powers in what critics described as “imperial Manila.”

They also believe the 40 percent internal revenue allotment to local governments is not enough to spur growth in poor regions. At present, national internal revenue taxes is divided 60-40 in favor of the national government.

Critics of federalism, however, believe the system only leads to more taxes. They pointed out that the national government and local state governments can impose taxes that can be burdensome to citizens. Others also fear that the system would worsen regionalism in the country, which has been perceived as a hindrance to attaining national unity.

Recent efforts to amend the Constitution have proven to be unpopular as they were viewed as an attempt to lift the term limits of officials. - With Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado