ILOILO CITY – Chancellor Clement Camposano of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas proposed the regional election of senators during the public consultation on constitutional reforms here on Monday, Feb. 13.
Camposano, speaking in the forum conducted by the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said the regional election of senators can give a window of opportunity to serve the interests of each and every region.
He said this would curb political clans serving on the senatorial level and may not be for the best interests of all Filipinos.
Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez backed the election of senators per region. “I am amenable to that,” said the actor-turned-politician.
Gomez added that this could give senators jurisdiction of an area. “That could be a very good idea. Unlike us in Congress, the senators they don't have a direct constituency,” Gomez added.
This was not the first time that the regional election of senators has been proposed as one of the amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
The idea was revived in 2018 and the proposal was to elect at least two senators per region.