House turns sights on Charter change issues

MANILA, Philippines—With the impeachment of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez out of the way, the House of Representatives is turning its sights on reviving the public debate on amending the Constitution or Charter change.

Misamis Occidental Rep. Loreto Ocampos, chair of the committee on constitutional amendments, announced Tuesday that a series of public consultations on Charter change would kick off in Cagayan de Oro City on May 27.

Ocampos said four issues—economic reform, judicial reform, local government reform and the form of government—would be tackled in the consultations to be conducted nationwide.

“We will sell Charter change. We will go around the country and listen to the people first, then we’ll give the positive points of Charter change,” said Ocampos, who added that President Benigno Aquino III himself was open to amending the Constitution.