Charter-change proponents warned on insertions

MANILA, Philippines–Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares on Sunday warned that President Aquino’s allies could pull a fast one and insert the lifting of term limits and the clipping of the powers of the Supreme Court in the proposed constitutional amendment during the closed-door Senate-House conference.

“The threat is real and the people should express their opposition now before it is too late,” Colmenares said in a statement.

“Once the House Cha-cha (Charter change) passes, the Senate is expected to also approve the pending resolution before it. The bicameral committee now becomes a tool for the insertion of provisions doing away with term limits and the Supreme Court’s judicial powers to check abuse of presidential powers.  The Cha-cha proponents admitted these themselves,” Colmenares said.

During the plenary debates on the proposed Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), Colmenares asked Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. whether there was any assurance that no term extension and other political amendments would be made in conference.

Barzaga replied: “Assuming the worst-case scenario that these are inserted in [conference], that does not mean we don’t have any remedy. That does not mean our countrymen cannot do anything. We can always go to the Supreme Court and ask the Supreme Court to declare that insertion unconstitutional because we have violated our own rules insofar as making changes in the Constitution is concerned.”

The five-word phrase of RBH 1 would be inserted in seven constitutional provisions covering mining and other natural resources, alienable lands on the public domain, sale of private lands, reserved investments, awarding of public franchises, ownership of educational institutions, and ownership and management of mass media.

But Colmenares said Barzaga’s assurance of a remedy was not reassuring.

“Going up to the Supreme Court would be too late by that time since the proposal could be immediately approved and submitted to the [Commission on Elections] for referendum,” Colmenares said.

This is why the public should take with a grain of salt Malacañang’s and Congress’ repeated assurances that the amendments would be only for economic and not political reforms, he said.

“This Cha-cha on economic provisions will not only destroy our economy but will also serve as a means to insert term extension and provisions attacking the Supreme Court’s  power to check presidential abuse. We should act now to oppose Cha-cha,” Colmenares said.