VP on charter change: ConCon over ConAss
Published Jan 18, 2018 04:49 pm
By Raymund Antonio
Vice President Leni Robredo prefers a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) for Charter Change rather than a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), stressing that people’s participation matters in amending the country’s Constitution.
Vice President Leni Robredo (FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN)
“From the very start, parating doon ako sa Constitutional Commission, kasi binigyan doon iyong mga tao ng pagkakataon na pumili kung sino iyong mag... magre-represent sa kanila doon sa Komisyon ((From the very start, I have always favored Constitutional Commission because the people will be given the opportunity to choose who will represent them in the commission),” she said.
“Pangalawa, iyong mga Constitutional Commission members, nakatutok talaga sa pag-frame ng Saligang Batas, at hindi siya nakahalo sa ibang trabaho (In addition, the Constitutional Commission members are focused on framing the Constitution),” she added.
Con-Con and Con-Ass are two of three modes allowed to amend the Constitution.
The third one is through a people’s initiative
Con-Con calls for an election or appointment of a body separate from Congress to change the constitution.
Under Con-Ass, on the other hand, it turns Congress into a body that changes the Constitution.
The Vice President reiterated her stand on the mode of changing the charter through Con-con since it would allow lawmakers to concentrate on their legislative duties in Congress.
Robredo was asked for her reaction on the Senate hearing that discussed the controversial Charter Change during her Metro Laylayan visit in Muntinlupa City.
Constitution experts attended the hearing, where they were consulted on the proposals to change the Constitution to give way for a federal system of government.
Among the resource speakers present were former Justices Hilario Davide Jr., one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, and Reynato Puno, as well as former Senate President Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel.
Vice President Leni Robredo (FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN)
“From the very start, parating doon ako sa Constitutional Commission, kasi binigyan doon iyong mga tao ng pagkakataon na pumili kung sino iyong mag... magre-represent sa kanila doon sa Komisyon ((From the very start, I have always favored Constitutional Commission because the people will be given the opportunity to choose who will represent them in the commission),” she said.
“Pangalawa, iyong mga Constitutional Commission members, nakatutok talaga sa pag-frame ng Saligang Batas, at hindi siya nakahalo sa ibang trabaho (In addition, the Constitutional Commission members are focused on framing the Constitution),” she added.
Con-Con and Con-Ass are two of three modes allowed to amend the Constitution.
The third one is through a people’s initiative
Con-Con calls for an election or appointment of a body separate from Congress to change the constitution.
Under Con-Ass, on the other hand, it turns Congress into a body that changes the Constitution.
The Vice President reiterated her stand on the mode of changing the charter through Con-con since it would allow lawmakers to concentrate on their legislative duties in Congress.
Robredo was asked for her reaction on the Senate hearing that discussed the controversial Charter Change during her Metro Laylayan visit in Muntinlupa City.
Constitution experts attended the hearing, where they were consulted on the proposals to change the Constitution to give way for a federal system of government.
Among the resource speakers present were former Justices Hilario Davide Jr., one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, and Reynato Puno, as well as former Senate President Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel.