Marcos won't oppose proposal to replace 'forthwith' as long as it improves Constitution
If the proposal to replace the word "forthwith" in the constitutional process of impeachment would prevent loopholes in the laws, President Marcos will not oppose it.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement on Tuesday, Aug. 11, when sought for Malacañang's thought on the proposal of Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo Puno to replace the word "forthwith" in the constitutional process of impeachment with a specific number of days.
According to Puno, the move aims to avoid a repeat of the deadlock seen in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
"[K]ung ito naman po ay ikagaganda at ikaliliwanag para hindi na mabutasan ang anumang mga provision dito sa Constitution ay hindi naman po ito tututulan ng Pangulo (If this will help improve and clarify matters to prevent any loopholes in the provisions of the Constitution, the President will not oppose it)," Castro said.
Castro, however, said that the President cannot give his specific take on the proposal yet as the details of what will be done regarding the proposal have not yet been seen.
The Palace officer also believed that there are actually instances when terms in the Constitution, despite being clear, can still be used in order to favor someone.
"Actually, po sa mga ganyan ay malalaman din naman po natin kung ano po ang isinaad noon ng mga framers of the 1987 Constitution. May mga pagkakataon lamang po siguro kahit maliwanag ang ibang mga definition or mga terms ay minsan napapalabo para mayroong mapaboran (Actually, in such cases, we would eventually know what the framers of the 1987 Constitution had stated. There may be instances when, even if certain definitions or terms are clear, they are sometimes muddled in order to favor someone)," she said.