MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senator Robinhood Padilla is considering another Charter change (Cha-cha) bid, but this time with proposed amendments to the Constitution鈥檚 political and economic provisions.
Padilla, chairperson of the Senate鈥檚 panel on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, earlier filed Senate Resolution of Both Houses No. 5, proposing amendments strictly on specific political provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
READ: Robin Padilla seeks expanded terms for president, vice president
But after hearing the opinion of some experts, Padilla said he is now 鈥渙pen鈥� to filing another resolution, this time taking into consideration the fresh suggestions of several stakeholders.
Padilla presided over a hearing on RBH5 on Wednesday. Resource speakers during the hearing include former finance chief Margarito Teves, former Budget and Management secretary Romulo Neri, and Consumer Protection Advocacy Group chair Ricardo Penson.
鈥淒ahil sa ganda ng ating talakayan, naisip naming pag-aralan ng committee ang rekomendasyon ng bawat isa patungkol sa mode of amendment ng konstitusyon. Open tayo sa posibilidad na maglabas po tayo ng bagong resolusyon patungkol dito,鈥� said Padilla.
(Because of how well our discussion went, our committee has decided to study each other鈥檚 recommendations regarding the mode of amending the Constitution. We are open to releasing a new resolution on this matter.)
In an ambush interview after the hearing, Padilla was asked which amendments his 鈥渘ew鈥� resolution would cover. He answered this by saying: 鈥淧ati political [provisions].鈥� (Political provisions as well.)
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鈥淵un ang sinasabi kanina ng guest natin. Babaguhin mo ang economic provision, iiwan mo naman ang political. Kumbaga, sa riles ng tren 鈥� kapag isa lang ang riles ay hindi tatakbo. Mas magandang dalawa, may sense eh,鈥� said Padilla, adding that he was advised by his legislative staff to just pursue Cha-cha via constitutional convention.
(That鈥檚 what our guest was saying. You鈥檒l amend the economic provision but leave behind political provisions. Imagine a railway; if there鈥檚 only one rail, then trains wouldn鈥檛 run. So it鈥檚 better if there鈥檚 two鈥攊t makes sense.)
The senator did not give a definite date when his new resolution would be filed, but he assured that it may be out by 鈥渘ext week.鈥�
Experts鈥� side
During the panel鈥檚 hearing on Wednesday, Neri said he is in favor of amending the Constitution, but he suggested that it be made all at once.
鈥淎ko, if we鈥檙e gonna change the Constitution [ay] palitan na lahat. Kasi ang daming problema. When I read it, sumakit ang ulo,鈥� he said.
(For me, if we鈥檙e going to change the Constitution, let鈥檚 change it all because there are so many problems. I got a headache when I read it.)
Meanwhile, Teves admitted that he has yet to form a sound judgment on the proposals to amend the political provisions of the Constitution. Still, based on his 鈥渋ntuitive feeling,鈥� he thinks he would also agree.
鈥淧ero intuitive feeling lang 鈥� wala pang scientific o really thoughtful time devoted to it, 鈥榶ung 6 years pwede na pero pwedeng extendable pa rin 鈥榶an. Kasi ako naman convinced din ako na wala dapat term limits, no? Kung sakaling meron man lang, siguro sa mataas na posisyon na. Siguro max na siguro ang 12 years kung sa Presidente, no?鈥� said Teves.
(But it鈥檚 just an intuitive feeling 鈥� there鈥檚 no scientific or really thoughtful time devoted to it, but I think the 6 years is fine, but it can still be extended. I鈥檓 also convinced that there shouldn鈥檛 be term limits. Maybe a 12-year maximum is okay for the President, right?)
The Senate, through Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, is currently leading talks on economic Cha-cha.
READ: Marcos: Why the row? Senate to lead Cha-cha听
This was made according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 request for the upper chamber to review the proposals to amend specific provisions of the Constitution.
Marcos said he saw the need to ease restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution to allow more foreign direct investment in the country.