Con-com approves proposal to adopt parliamentary system

Following a series of heated debates, the 49-member Consultative Commission (con-com) tasked to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution last night approved the proposal to shift the country’s form of government to a parliamentary system.

Of the 39 commissioners present during the plenary meeting held at the Seameo Innotech center in Diliman, Quezon City, 32 voted to adopt the proposal submitted by the committee on the form of government.

Among the commissioners who tenaciously opposed the shift to a parliamentary system were Biliran Mayor Gerry Espina, Jose Leviste, James Marty Lim and Anthony Acevedo.

Even as the proposal to shift the form of government from the present presidential to parliamentary was adopted, con-com chairman Jose Abueva stressed the plenary resolution is "still subject to refinement and modification" following the outcome of public consultations.

Last Wednesday the con-com’s committee on the form of government, in a vote of 20 to eight, decided to adopt the proposal made by Gonzalo Jurado to shift to a parliamentary system.

Among those who presented arguments in favor of a parliamentary form of government were Abueva and STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa.

Committee chairman Emmanuel Angeles and Commissioner Raul Lambino, for their part, presented the advantages and disadvantages of both forms of government.

The con-com members had previously failed to adopt an earlier resolution by the committee on the form of government pushing for the shift to a parliamentary system.

The proposal was referred back to the committee for further study after 21 out of the 38 commissioners who had voted in plenary decided against it.

Several commissioners pointed out the inherent weaknesses of both forms of government but decided to adopt the parliamentary system as a tried and tested political system being followed by developed countries in Asia and Europe.

Con-com members will start their public consultations on the proposal starting Monday in Cebu City.

From Cebu, the con-com will divide into three teams to conduct public consultations in Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Iloilo City, Ormoc City, Zamboanga City, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

President Arroyo had ordered the con-com members to submit their recommendations to her by Dec. 15. Mrs. Arroyo will then formally transmit the proposed amendments to Congress for deliberation.