Isko Moreno seeks reforms via charter change

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno wants a return to the two-party system, among other things. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Wednesday urged dramatic political reforms via changes in the 1987 Constitution, including a return to the two-party system, a regional composition of the Senate, and a party list system representing the truly marginalized.

“We need a vice president that is supportive of the president because the president has the mandate as the country’s leader. The problem is if the vice president is from the opposition, for the next five years, they will do nothing but quarrel with the President,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said in Marikina City.

“So, it’s time to have only one vote for the President and Vice President. This political system, on top of the economic provisions we need to reform, will create stability in the hearts and minds of our people,” the 47-year-old mayor said.

“If we truly want unity, we need to show that Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon are equal. Our senators should be voted per region. Two per region, so that’s 34 senators,” he said.

“That will come as a relief to the people of Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Batanes, or Tawi-Tawi because there’s a senator who is just their neighbor and who knows their culture, traditions, and customs,” he added.

Domagoso said he also wanted a review of the party-list system as he felt it was no longer serving its original purpose of providing representation for the marginalized sectors of society in Congress.

“What is happening is it seems that the party-list groups now belong to the wealthy, not the sectors that really need help. Look around. I am not singling out anybody,” he said.

“It has come to a point where the party lists represent the interests of the rich. So what about farmers, fisherfolk or the urban poor, how about them? They are starting to fade away because the party-list system is being run by money,” Domagoso said.

He said he wanted a “blended” political setup incorporating the best parts of the presidential, federal, and parliamentary systems, “taking out the bad parts and filling in the gaps.”

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