黑料社

The Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution (Con-Com) would invite individuals who oppose charter-change (cha-cha) to air their views and address their concerns, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said聽on Monday.

鈥淲e should also be open to hearing the oppositions to charter change so let us have our antenna up to all ideas wherever they come,鈥� Puno said during the first en banc session of the Con-com.

Critics last week launched the formation of 鈥淣o to Cha-cha Coalition,鈥� which aims to block the administration鈥檚 effort to amend the Constitution.

Two framers of the charter 鈥� 1986 Constitutional Commission members Christian Monsod and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. 鈥� are among those leading the alliance.

They warned the public of that the proposed amendments might pave the way for another dictatorship.

鈥淸This charter change] is a lethal experiment, a plunge to death, a leap to hell,鈥� Davide said in a speech during the launch of the coalition. 鈥淔or those who took oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution to now lure people into an unproved federal system is tyranny.鈥�

搁贰础顿:听鈥楴o to Cha-cha鈥� coalition launched

Puno, in an interview with the media after the session, explained that the best draft would need the views of the opposition.

鈥淲hen we present this draft to the people, we should be able to convince them that this is the best proposition for them and that we have taken to account even the opposition to this proposed constitution,鈥� he said.

The former chief justice emphasized that the committee is an independent body and President Rodrigo Duterte did not impose on the body what provisions should be included in its proposal.

鈥淪o far, you鈥檝e heard the President, and even in our dialogue with him, the only thing he emphasized is the need to focus our attention to the problem in Mindanao as among the areas that should be given priority attention,鈥� Puno said. 鈥淏ut otherwise he did not insinuate anything which he would like to be in this proposed Constitution.鈥�

Puno also supported the idea of Sen. Aquilino 鈥淣ene鈥� Pimentel Jr. to allow ordinary Filipinos to participate in public hearings.

鈥淏ecause otherwise, it would seem as if we are just interested to hear the side of so-called experts without touching base with the people themselves,鈥� Pimentel told committee members. /atm