Palace: No self-serving intentions in pushing for Con-Ass

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella. INQUIRER PHOTO

The government has said that there is no “self-serving” intentions in its decision to push for a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the Constitution.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Friday said the plan to change the form of government was “going to be for the greater good.”

“First and foremost, whatever results will be from the Con-Con (Constitutional Convention) or the Con-Ass, it will be to the benefit of the next generation of leaders, right? It will not be affecting them (lawmakers) directly. Self-serving does not really come into play here,” Abella said in a press briefing.

“What we’re moving towards is federalism, right? We all agree, more or less agree, that this is going to be for the greater good,” he added.

The Palace official said President Rodrigo Duterte was more inclined to amend the Constitution through a Con-Ass rather than Con-Con.

“It was discussed as a possibility considering the prohibitive cost should they begin the process soon, seeing that (the Sangguniang Kabataan), proposed salary increases for the [Philippine National Police] are looming,” he said.

In an interview on Thursday, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Duterte wanted a Con-Ass to amend the 1987 Constitution.

READ: It’s Con-ass, not Con-con

Alvarez said the President’s decision was made after the National Security Council meeting at Malacañang on Wednesday night.

The Speaker said revising the Constitution through Con-Ass would be “cheaper and faster.”

The shift to a federal form of government was a campaign promise of Duterte.

During his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the House of Representatives on July 25, he urged the Congress to put up a federal form of government with a prime minister and a president.

Duterte also said he would be willing to vacate his post if the federal system of government would require another election for president./rga