Sen. Robinhood Padilla said on Thursday, April 25 that he is open to pushing a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) in his attempt to amend economic and political provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Padilla said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum that this is just an option should the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 being pursued not push through.
"Kaya lang naman lumabas yung ConCon kasi hindi tayo puwedeng mawalan ng paraan (The only reason why ConCon is floated is because we cannot be limited to a single means)," he explained.
The Senate is leading the review of the Constitution's economic provisions under a subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes led by Sen. Sonny Angara through RBH 6.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri filed RBH 6, proposing amendments to Articles XII, XIV, and XVI of the 1987 Constitution pertaining to public services, education, and advertising.
Padilla said that if RBH 6 hurdles past the Senate and becomes fruitful leading to more investments, generation of jobs, and higher salary, he would no longer attempt to change the current system.
"Bakit ipagpipilitan ko itong sistema na ito kung aandar naman pala? (Why would I force this kind of system if it already works?)" he said.
Cover all areas
During the hearing on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) of Congress No. 5, by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes presided by Padilla, he said that he aims to cover all areas he was not able to include in his previous resolution.
This resolution proposes changes to the constitutional terms of elected officials including the President, Vice President, and lawmakers.
"Kasi nang nag-uusap kanina, halos lahat ng expert sinasabi nila bakit utay-utay pa, bakit hindi sabayin. Sabi (ng) legis, siguro isulong natin ang con-con. Gusto natin talagang ang Constitution, kasi may nagsabi kanina na expert, ang linaw ng pagkakasabi, bakit naman isa-isa. Di ba pagusapan nang buo (Almost all the experts at today's hearing said many provisions need to be amended simultaneously and not one provision at a time)," he said in an interview Wednesday night.
Padilla said he plans to file a resolution to the effect as early as this coming week.
He said there is a need to amend the economic and political provisions of the Charter, after resource persons at Wednesday's hearing cited problems with provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
One involved the call of councilors to extend the terms of local officials to five years instead of three, to have enough time to implement their programs. Interior Assistant Secretary Romeo Benitez noted three years is too short as the first year is a honeymoon period, the second is for serious work, and the third is to prepare for the next elections.
"Sinasabi ng nasa local government, dapat 5 years. Kailangan pag-aralan (Three years may be too short for local government posts - five years would be better. We must study this)," said Padilla.
Also, Padilla said he would seek help from former Finance Secretaries Margarito Teves and Romulo Neri to ensure the Con-Con will not cost too much.
"Narinig nyo ang expert kanina ... malinaw na malinaw na sinabi nila, old na po. Hindi na po natutugma sa panahon ngayon ang Constitution natin (You heard the experts. They clearly said the Constitution is old and no longer in tune with the times)," he said.
He said that if this resolution does not prosper, he will not cease from crafting a resolution related to Charter Change (Cha-Cha) as long as President Marcos supports it.
"Lumalakas lang po ang loob ko dahil nakikita ko na ang Pangulo ay pro, ang House ay pro. Naniniwala naman ako na isang araw eh dadami ang kapatid natin na senador na mapagusapan ito...Yung mapag-usapan lang, eh napakalaking bagay na siguro (I am only strong-willed because the President and the the House supports this. I believe that one a lot of our colleagues in Senate will talk about this...for this to be discussed is perhaps a big thing already)," he said.