‘Bill on citizens’ duties must be included in amended Charter’

A bill on the duties and obligations of each Filipino citizen is among the proposals to be included in recommended amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

"Citizens assert so much of their rights but not their duties, such as paying of taxes. There should be a balance between rights and duties," said Jose Abueva, former University of the Philippines president and chairman of the 49-member consultative commission (con-com) to propose amendments to the 18-year-old Charter.

The proposed "Bill of Duties and Obligations" would follow the Bill of Rights in the Constitution and would have eight sections.

Abueva said a Bill of Duties and Obligations has already been included in the 46-page draft amendments to the Charter prepared by the Citizens Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP), which he also heads.

The first section of the proposed bill states that it shall be the duty of each citizen to be loyal to the Federal Republic of the Philippines and to honor the Philippine flag.

Citizens are also called to defend the State and contribute to its development and welfare, to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws, and to cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and preservation of a peaceful, just and orderly society.

Among the key sections of the proposed Bill of Duties and Obligations is Section 3 which deals with human life, dignity and rights.

Section 3 states: "Citizens shall respect the life and dignity of every human person and help uphold human rights whenever these are threatened or violated. The State and the citizens shall prevent and prohibit the killing of humans in any form and for whatever purpose."

Abueva admitted that Section 3 implies an opposition to the death penalty, which remains suspended in the Philippines at present.

Meanwhile, Abueva is keeping his distance from the controversial calibrated preemptive response (CPR) now being used by police to break up street protests against the administration.

"It (the CPR) is a delicate balancing act any incumbent government has to make. I am more focused on rewriting the Constitution than on enforcing it," he said.

However, Abueva told reporters that as a libertarian he is "uncomfortable" with what is now happening.

"I am not comfortable when people feel that their rights are being violated," he said.

Meanwhile, members of the con-com are set to hold the first series of regional consultations from Oct. 24 to 27.

Con-com secretary general Lito Monico Lorenzana told reporters that all members of the commission would be in Cebu City on Oct. 24 where the first in the series of public and sectoral consultations will be held.

Lorenzana said con-com members have been grouped into three teams of at least 16 members each.

"We have to get the pulse of the Filipino people," he said.

Lorenzana said the commissioners will not only attend workshops to be participated in by local government executives, religious groups, indigenous people, professionals, youth groups, businessmen, farmers, fisher-folk and academe, they will also allot time to answer questions from the media.

The workshops, Lorenzana said, will focus on the proposed shift in form of government (from presidential to parliamentary), the proposed structure of government (bicameral to unitary), economic provisions and general provisions.

All three consultative teams will stay in Cebu City for two days before splitting up to proceed to other key areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Other areas where consultations will be conducted include Zamboanga City, La Paz in Iloilo, Tacloban City, Puerto Princesa, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

The three teams will fly back to Manila on Oct. 28, Lorenzana said.

Consultations in Luzon, including Metro Manila and Bicol province would start on Nov. 12, Lorenzana said.

Though Malacañang has not provided the con-com with funding on top of its P10-million operating fund, Lorenzana said assistance on the conduct of the regional consultations has been offered to them by the various regional development offices (RDOs) and local government units.

The commission has until Dec. 15 to finish their public consultations and submit their recommendations to the President.