Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said any efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution should be anchored on the need to adapt its provisions to the country’s current needs.
As remarkable as the country’s Constitution is, Go said it contains so many provisions which are either outdated or are no longer helping the country grow and advance alongside today’s most pressing concerns.
“Ang 1987 Philippine Constitution ay 35 years old na. Ni minsan, hindi ito naamyendahan. Kaya suportado ko ang mga inisyatibo na pag-aralang muli ang mga probisyon nito na pwedeng gawing mas akma sa hamon ng makabagong panahon (The Philippine Constitution is already 35 years old. It has never been amended. That’s why I support initiatives to study its provision once again and make it attuned to the challenges of the modern society),” Go said in a statement.
“Tandaan natin na napakaimportante ng ating Saligang Batas. Dito nakasalalay ang ating demokrasya at soberanya. Kaya ang anumang iminumungkahing pagbabago sa dokumentong ito, dapat ay mailatag at mapaintindi ito sa mga tao dahil sila naman ang dapat na magbenepisyo rito (Let us remember that the Constitution is very important. Our democracy and sovereignty lies here. So any proposed amendments to this document should be explained and laid bare to the people who stands to benefit from this),” he added.
Go also stressed that if revisions will be made, they must be in the best interest of the Filipino people.
“Pero ulitin ko, kung anuman po ‘yung babaguhin natin at pag-aaralan po natin dito, dapat po ang taumbayan po ang makikinabang, lalo na ang mahihirap po (I reiterate that whatever needs to be amended, that should be studied, the people should benefit especially the poor),” said Go.
“Hindi po dapat pulitiko ang makinabang dito. Dapat ang taumbayan at mahihirap po ang makinabang kung papaano natin mai-improve ang kanilang sitwasyon kung sakaling babaguhin nga ang ating Saligang Batas (Politicians should not benefit from it. It should be the people and the poor citizens who must benefit, how do we improve their situation should we move on to change the Constitution),” he added.
Recently, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is now the Chief President Legal Counsel of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. argued that the 1987 Constitution ought to be amended.
He made the statement last, Wednesday, September 21, during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Revisions.