House panel approves Charter change resolution

House of Representatives. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A House of Representatives committee approved on Monday a resolution seeking to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Leila Salaverria tweeted that 24 members of the House committee on constitutional amendments voted in favor of the resolution while two voted against, and only one abstained.

The House resolution filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeks to ease the foreign restrictions in the Constitution by inserting the “unless otherwise provided for by law” phrase in the provision granting 60-percent ownership to Filipinos and 40-percent on foreign investments.

This means amending the Constitution would only require a simple legislation that needs to be approved by both chambers of Congress and subjected to a plebiscite.

Belmonte had said he would make sure that the resolution would only be limited to economic provisions and would not be used to change the system of government.

Charter change has failed in the previous Congresses due to criticisms that it could be used to extend the term limits of public officials.

The charter change resolution would now move to the plenary for debate.

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