Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday said that “errors” in the federal charter drafted by the Consultative Committee (Con-Com) made him consider to run for the Senate in the 2019 midterm elections.
“Ang tunay na nag-udyok sa akin na tumakbo muli ay nung pinag-aralan ko ‘yung panukalang saligang batas ng Con-Com. Nakita ko na maraming mali,” Enrile told reporters in a forum in Quezon City.
(The reason I ran again is I studied the Con-Com’s proposed charter and saw it had many errors.)
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
The 94-year-old former lawmaker particularly raised concern over the funding for the proposed transition to a federal government.
“Mali at magbibigay ng hirap sa mga mamamayang Pilipino,” Enrile said about the probable cost of the shift on the people, adding “Magkano ang additional budget kung itatayo ‘yang pederalismo na ‘yan? At saan nila kukunin yan?”
(It would be wrong and would burden the Filipino people. How much would the additional budget be if we push through with Federalism? Where will we get the funding?)
“Manggagaling sa pera ninyo, sa bulsa natin. Kaya ba natin yan? Walang analysis e,” he said.
(The money will come from you, from our pockets. Can we afford it? They did no analysis.)
Enrile also raised questions about the “gap” during the transition period. He asked what institution would put the transition commission in check.
“‘Yung dulo ng panukalang saligang batas na ‘yan yung transition (period)… may gap ‘yan. Anong saligang batas ang gagamitin natin dyan sa gap na ‘yan?” he said.
(At one end of that proposed constitution is the transition period. There will be a gap. What charter will be used to address that gap?)
“During that one year sino ang magbabudget ng money ng gobeyrno, ‘yung transition commission? Kung may masasaktan sa decision ng transition commission, saan pupunta para umapela?” he added.
(During that one year, who will allocate money for the government? The transition commission? If anyone gets hurt by the transition commission, where can he appeal?) /cbb
READ: It’s official: Enrile files candidacy for senator