Con-com eyes postponement of 2007 elections

The presidential consultative commission (con-com) on Charter amendments is set to deliberate on a proposal to postpone the 2007 national and local elections to 2010 and set up a three-year transitional government as preparation for the final shift from the current presidential system of government to whatever form is provided for under a new Constitution.

Con-com delegate and mayor of Naval town in Biliran province Gerardo Espiña Sr. told reporters during the weekly "Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel" forum in Quezon City that the proposal is contained in a resolution adopted by the 1,500-strong League of Municipalities of the Philippines and submitted to the committee on transitory provision of the con-com.

Espiña, who was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention and eventually became a member of the Batasan Pambansa, said if the proposed three-year transitional government materializes, it would be the fifth in the country’s history. The first and the longest was the commonwealth government of President Manuel Quezon, which lasted for 10 years. The Marcos six-year interim unicameral government was the next longest, while the six-month-long revolutionary government of President Corazon Aquino was the shortest transitional government.

"This is a historical fact that must be put in place every time we change or amend (our Constitution). In the past, there has been transitory period for the new form of government," he said.

The three-year period would practically extend the terms of local and national officials whose terms would expire in 2007 and would also allow President Arroyo to complete her term of office in 2010.

Members of the Senate and Congress would be absorbed into the unicameral legislative body, similar to the defunct Batasan Pambansa of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

But Espiña warned that local officials must not rejoice over the extension of their terms because during this period the recall system would still be in place to remove from office any erring local officials.

"Even President Arroyo will not be spared. She can be subjected to yearly impeachment proceedings before the unicameral body that will have the final say on whether she will remain in office," he said.

The three-year transition government, he said, would result in billion of pesos in savings for the canceled elections and would also serve as a moratorium on political squabbles because aspiring presidential candidates and senatorial aspirants would have to wait until the next elections held in 2010.

He added the idea of a transitional government serves as a win-win solution to the current political crisis facing the country. He said the proposal, which is expected to be subjected to plenary debate, would be acceptable to Congress, which would have the final say on the proposed amendments of the Constitution.

"Congress will become a unicameral legislative body with incumbent senators and congressmen as members," he explained.