Lawmakers urged to sign pledge on Charter change

Buhay partylist congressman Lito Atienza . INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the House of Representatives should sign a pledge to the people saying that lawmakers should not touch on the political aspects of the Constitution and focus only on lifting the economic restrictions of the charter, a partylist representative urged Wednesday.

Buhay Representative Lito Atienza said he filed House Resolution No. 864 that urges his colleagues to sign the pledge in the bid to amend the Charter.

“There are concerns that the amendments will not only change the economic provisions, but also touch on the political provisions,” Atienza, a former Manila mayor, said in a statement.

Moves to amend the Constitution failed in the previous Congress due to wide criticisms that move would be used to extend term limits of incumbent public officials.

Charter change took a step closer to reality when the House committee on constitutional amendments approved for plenary debate on Monday the House Joint Resolution No. 1.

The resolution principally authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeks to add “unless otherwise provided by law” to the Constitution’s articles concerning the national economy and patrimony; education, science, technology, arts, culture and sports; and general provisions.

Should the bill passes the plenary debates in the House, it would be forwarded to the Senate. Once it is approved by the Senate, the bill would be subjected to a plebiscite.

Atienza said his proposed measure would assure their constituents that Charter change would not be used for political ends.

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