Senator Robinhood Padilla, who pushes Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) to amend the 1987 Constitution, is poised to file next week a resolution to strengthen his stand on Charter change (Cha-cha).
Padilla, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said he will seek help from two former Finance secretaries—Margarito Teves and Romulo Neri—to ensure the Con-Con will not be costly.
Padilla cite expert opinion that many provisions in the Constitution could stand amendments simultaneously, not piecemeal.
He agreed there is a need to amend the economic and political provisions of the Constitution following testimonies of resource persons at Wednesday’s hearing on Cha-cha by his committee. They cited problems with certain 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 and Local Government Assistant Secretary Romeo Benitez noted that three years is too short, saying, the first year is a “honeymoon period,” the second is for serious work, and the third is to prepare for the next elections.
“Three years may be too short for local government posts – five years would be better. We must study this,” said Padilla.
“You heard the experts. They clearly said the Constitution is old and no longer in tune with the times,” he added.