New citizens’ group urges Constitution review

A new citizens’ group urged Congress yesterday to drop "personal interests" and initiate a review of the Constitution within 90 days to establish a federal republic with a unicameral legislature.

The National Coalition of Citizens, in its statement, also asked President Arroyo to form a citizens’ consultative constitutional commission to give citizens, civil society groups, the private sector and local government officials a chance to participate in discussions on Charter amendments.

Former congressman Antonio Eduardo Nachura, a leading voice in the coalition, said their group is urging the Senate and the House of Representatives to "give the highest priority to the debate on Charter change."

Charter change proponents have pointed to perpetual gridlock between the Senate and the House, and between lawmakers and the executive branch, as a deterrent to economic progress and stability.

The coalition also said Congress sitting as a constituent assembly, "which the present Charter provides as the first option for constitutional revision — can limit the proposed amendments to three major provisions."

The group called for a review of the government’s form and structure, and some provisions in the Constitution "which deter the country’s economic development."

The constituent assembly should write a provision "for an orderly transition from the current government to the new," the coalition added.

Nachura said they are urging Congress to immediately undertake "all the steps necessary to create a credible political environment for reform." He said that among these steps are raising the Commission on Elections beyond the reach of partisan politics, setting up a "truly professional" civil service, having political parties articulate their policies and programs and act as "efficient channels of popular expression," and authorizing state financing for qualified political parties.

The coalition also urged lawmakers to reject "turncoat" politics and party-switching, ban the perpetuation of political dynasties, and schedule synchronized elections only every five years "to save the country from their high costs and debilitating campaigns."

In its statement, the coalition accused the 20 senators in the 12th Congress of blocking Charter amendments proposed in 2003 by an "overwhelming majority" of congressmen, "all the local leagues representing governors, city... and municipal mayors, and non-government organizations from all the country’s regions."

Nachura was then the head of the House committee on constitutional amendments, which sponsored a joint resolution calling for a constituent assembly to amend the Charter. The resolution was approved by more than 190 congressmen.

"Filipino people are already aware that Charter amendments, including the shift to parliamentary and federal government, have been thoroughly discussed for years as a major political reform initiative," he said.

The coalition’s statement was signed by Lito Monico Lorenzana, STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa, Fernando Pena, Lito Jimenez, Eliseo Ocampo, Francis Manglapus, Amado Lagdameo Jr., political science and law professor Jose Abueva, Jose Romero, Rey Magno Teves, Amado Valdez and Mariano Magsalin Jr.

Abueva said shifting to a parliamentary system would be beneficial because executive and legislative powers are united in a parliament and the majority part will elect a prime minister.

He proposed an additional 100 seats in parliament that will be occupied by those who will represent the interests of local governments and various sectors.

Nachura believes that graft and corruption can be minimized under a parliamentary system because the public and the minority party in parliament will closely monitor the prime minister and the Cabinet through the system’s built-in checks and balances.

Abueva and Nachura said having just two parties in parliament would ensure a greater collective accountability and responsibility.

Nachura said based on the studies they made, convening Congress into a constituent assembly would cost a maximum of P900 million while a constitutional convention would require around P7 billion to cover expenses for personnel, office rental and office supplies needed for one year of work.

Meanwhile, lawyer Miguel Varela, former chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said businessmen share the sentiments expressed by Abueva and Nachura on Charter change.

Varela said the business sector believes that some economic provisions in the Constitution need to be changed "because they impede investments." He cited provisions limiting foreign ownership of a corporation to 40 percent and banning land ownership for foreigners. — Perseus Echeminada, Pia Lee-Brago