Duterte prefers Con-Con to Con-Ass in Charter change—Palace exec

President Rodrigo Duterte. AP FILE PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte prefers a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) as the mode to amend the 1986 Constitution, Palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Monday.

Speaking in his first press briefing in Malacañang, Abella said changing the 29-year-old Charter would be among the priority legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

“(Duterte) favors Con-Con, not Con-Ass (Constitutional Assembly). It’s more consultative,” Abella said. “As far as I know, that has been his preference.”

READ: Duterte: Change in form of gov’t possible only through ‘Con-Con’

Asked if the President would certify the bill as urgent to alter the country’s primary law, he said: “It’s definitely part of his priority, but I’m not sure how high it is considering we have so many issues at hand.”

Duterte has openly discussed his plan to amend the Charter to scrap the current presidential form of government and set up a federal state.

Outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon has filed a resolution pushing for Con-Con to change the Constitution.

READ: Drilon wants Charter review through Con-Con

“Whereas, the common good would be best served if the review of, and proposals to amend or revise, the Constitution would be made through and by a Constitutional Convention whose delegates are to be elected by the people for such purpose,” read a portion of Drilon’s resolution. RAM/rga