Duterte pushes Con-ass

PRESIDENT Duterte is pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha) through a constituent assembly (Con-ass) despite findings of a nationwide survey that Cha-cha supporters are  outnumbered by those opposing constitutional amendments.

In light of the Pulse Asia survey, however, several senators said public sentiment must be taken into account while efforts to spread awareness about moves to change the Constitution should be pursued.

In the Pulse Asia survey, 44 percent said the Constitution should not be amended, while 37 percent were in favor of amending it.  Nineteen percent were undecided.

The survey, conducted on July 2-8, covered 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

Asked what concerns should the Duterte administration address immediately, a mere

7 percent said amending the 1987 Constitution was a priority.

Even so, Mr. Duterte is pushing for a shift to a federal-parliamentary form of government from the current unitary-presidential form, which means changing the Constitution itself and not just amending specific provisions.

He favors a Con-ass, composed of members of Congress, over a constitutional convention (Con-con) because of the higher cost associated with the latter mode of changing the fundamental law of the land.

In a Con-con, delegates are elected by the electorate and given funds to carry out their work.

Contempt for Con-ass

Defending his preferred mode of introducing the changes to the Constitution,

Mr. Duterte on Monday said nobody could make sweeping generalizations about the competence of lawmakers, who would be proposing a new Constitution through a Con-ass.

He said he sensed “contempt” for the proposed Con-ass. But he said that even if several of the lawmakers were corrupt, this did not mean the same description would apply to all.

“You cannot make a sweeping statement that people cannot trust these guys to make a good Constitution, to craft a new one that would serve this generation because many of them had been elected time and again,” he said.

Many of the lawmakers have been serving the government for decades and have been chosen by the people probably because they are good, according to the President.

Besides, Mr. Duterte said, he and the rest of the executive branch, including the military, police and local officials, were there to keep an eye on the proposed amendments.

He would not allow a “bullshit Constitution” in case one is proposed, he added.

According to Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, however, amendments to the Constitution are not approved by the President and cannot be vetoed by him.

Plebiscite

The proposed amendments are submitted directly to the people for approval in a plebiscite, Drilon said in a statement. He earlier filed a resolution for a Con-con.

The Pulse Asia survey also found that less than half of Filipinos were aware of proposals to amend the Charter and seven in 10 said they knew nothing or only a little about the Constitution.

But compared to two years ago, opposition and indecision on Cha-cha fell. In November 2014, 49 percent were against it, 27 percent were in favor and 24 percent were undecided.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said public opinion should factor into legislative decisions. “Perhaps greater efforts should be exerted in engaging and involving the people in these dialogues about Charter change,” he said.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said the survey results should signal to the Duterte administration that the public did not want Cha-cha.

“I’m relieved to know that many of our people are not open to Charter change. That should put the brakes on the designs of the Duterte administration,” he said.

Nearly equal footing

But Sen. Grace Poe said the survey placed the “for” and “against” sides on nearly equal footing.

Poe noted the increase among the number of people who wanted Cha-cha: 27 percent from the last Pulse Asia survey on the same issue in 2014, to the current 37 percent.

“Taking into consideration the 3-percentage point margin of error, it appears that it is as of today a close call, but the trajectory of more people having the inclination to amend or revise the Constitution under the present dispensation may gain more ground,” she said.

Senate President Aquilino  Pimentel III, among those staunchly supporting the call for federalism of Mr. Duterte, his party mate, was optimistic that more people could still be convinced that Cha-cha is necessary.

Highest in Mindanao

“If 44 percent do not like Cha-cha, we can still swing the 56 percent. [The issue] has not been fully discussed. I don’t think it has even made front page news. So as soon as that becomes the issue of the day, more people will be convinced,” Pimentel said.

The Pulse Asia survey showed support for Cha-cha was highest in Mindanao and Metro Manila (both 47 percent) and among Class ABC (42 percent).

It also showed public opinion on changing the country’s form of government from presidential to parliamentary was split three-ways with 37 percent opposing it, down from 59 percent in February 2009; 33 percent supporting it, an increase from 21 percent in 2009; and 30 percent undecided about the shift, up from 20 percent in 2009.

Those in favor and not in favor of a federal system of government to replace the unitary system almost have the same percentages—39 percent versus 33 percent, while 28 percent were undecided.

In February 2009, 22 percent supported a federal government, 59 percent said “no’’ to it and 19 percent were undecided.

Federalism

In a privilege speech, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she and the Akbayan party “support opening conversations on federalism,” and stated her preference for a Con-con.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao, a Duterte ally, said he would go for whichever the President preferred.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente  Sotto III has “reservations” about the push for Cha-cha.

“As they say, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” he said, adding that the country needs a different kind of “Cha-cha,” that is “character change.” With a report from Ana Roa, Inquirer Research