Recto to Charter review panel: ‘Crowdsource’ public opinion

Senator Ralph Recto INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

While they are competent to speak on Charter change (Cha-cha), the Charter review committee was asked by a senator to “crowdsource” the opinions of the masses when proposing amendment in the Constitution.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto advised members of the newly-created review panel to feel the opinion of the people first before moving to amend the Constitution.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced the appointment of 19 members of the consultative committee to review the 1987 Constitution, with former Chief Justice Reynato Puno as its chairman.

“Although they are competent to speak on Charter change, the mandate of the appointees, however, is to listen to the diverse opinions on how to improve the basic law,” Recto said in a statement on Friday.

“On this, they are expected to crowdsource the wisdom of the people and digest them into a compact piece of recommendations for the sovereign, and their officials, to act on,” the senator said.

Recto also lauded Duterte’s initiative to form “a league of extraordinary gentlemen,” saying he was right to form a study group on the Constitution whose members “cannot be tempted to propose amendments tailored to their own personal interests.”

“The consultations to be conducted by Chief Justice Puno, Senate President Nene Pimentel and company will further enrich healthy discussions on the nation’s most important document, including the ones to be conducted by the Senate, which, I understand, will not cease on account of the presidential initiative,” he said.

READ: Puno to head Charter review panel

Duterte ordered the formation of a consultative committee through Executive Order No. 10, which he issued on Dec. 7, 2016.

The committee, under the Office of the President, was tasked to study, conduct consultations and review the Constitution, including its provisions on the structure and powers of government and economic policies. /jpv