A framer of the 1987 Constitution has argued that it is not necessary to amend the existing charter--for now, at least--for the reason that it was inspired by the first EDSA revolution.

"It is not necessary to amend the Constitution for reasons of context, content, and process," Christian Monsod said in his presentation Thursday, Jan. 26 during the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments hearing on bills seeking Charter Change (Cha-cha).

Thursday's hearing was the first proper discussion in the House on measures seeking constitutional revisions. The panel is chaired by Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

"On the issue of context, the context of today's hearing is the 1987 Constitution. In that regard, may I say something about it? Because survey showed that 73 percent of our people know nothing or very little about it," Monsod said.

"The 1987 Constitution, the 7th in our history, was the first time that we spoke to the world as a truly independent and democratic nation," noted the former chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"The inspiration of the 1987 Constitution was EDSA, which wasn't only about the restoration of democracy through peacefuls means. To the poor, it was also a promise of a new social order that remains unfulfilled to this day," said Monsod.

According to the framer, the Philippines remains at "the laggards in this part of the world in addresing the problems of mass poverty and gross inequalities".

Monsod subsequently took at a jab at the legislators throughout the decades who have been remiss in strengthening the 1987 Charter with relevant laws.

"Real change cannot happen until we strike at the roots and not at the brranches. Congress has not passed an anti- dynasty law for 35 years and blames the Constitution for the lapse. That is a lame excuse; the real reason is self-interest," he said.

"Instead of rushing to amend the Constitution, why don't our legislators pass an anti- dynasty law, of say four degrees for the barangay elections this year. And how about the abuse by political dynasties of the party-list system?" Monsod asked.

He further said that the existing Constitution provides "three major things".

"Number one, the heart of the Constitution and its provisions on social justice and human rights with the poor as the center or our development; number two, never again to any authoritarianism; and number three, the economy must be firmly and safely placed in the hands of Filipinos themselves."

The bloodless 1986 EDSA "People Power" revolution, which paved the way for the 1987 Constitution, resulted to the ouster of the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Installed in his place was Cory Aquino.

Marcos Sr.'s son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is the incumbent Philippine president.