2 senators revive Cha-cha issue, file con-con resolution

Two administration senators have revived the Charter change (Cha-cha) issue by filing a resolution that will allow the electorate to decide whether or not they want to amend the Constitution through a constitutional convention (con-con).

In Senate Resolution No. 1308, Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Teofisto “TG” Guingona III have proposed that should the electorate decide in favor of con-con, its delegates should be elected simultaneously with the May 2016 polls.

“To dispel any doubts that the constitutional reforms are being sought to advance political and economic interests of a chosen few, it would be more prudent, participatory and democratic to submit to the electorate the question of calling such a constitutional convention,” said the resolution filed on Tuesday.

“And to defray the cost of  a separate election for delegates to the constitutional convention, should the electorate favorably decide to call one, the election  shall be conducted with the May 9, 2016, national and local elections,” it further said.

“That depends, of course, if the electorate will clearly express a clamor and preference for the calling of a constitutional convention,” Guingona said in a separate statement on Thursday.

The resolution noted that under Article XVII, Section 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Congress could either directly call a constitutional convention by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, or submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention by a majority vote of all its members.

The resolution noted the need for the Constitution to adapt to present conditions “in order for it to truly represent the aspirations of its people.”

“Various business organizations and research groups have identified provisions in the 1987 Philippine Constitution that need to be revised to address expanding global demands, as well as economic and political realities,” it said.

“The calling of a constitutional convention to propose amendments to or revisions of the Constitution is the least divisive and the most transparent, exhaustive, and democratic way of achieving much-needed constitutional reforms,”  it further said.