Cebu groups back call for Con-Con

CEBU, Philippines - Multi-sectoral groups in Cebu led by Kamalayang Pinoy Movement (KPM) are calling for the Cebu legislators to support the House resolution calling for the referendum to let the electorate decide whether or not to call for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution.

The national referendum is proposed to be held simultaneous with the national elections on May 9, 2016 for the purpose of asking the electorate if they want the 17th Congress to, within 90 days from the opening of its session, call for a Constitutional Convention that will be composed of elected and appointed delegates to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution.

KPM national president Henry Tomalabcab lauded Mountain Province lone district Representative Maximo Dalog for filing House Resolution No. 2384.

“I am appealing to our legislators, especially to our Congressmen in Cebu to support the resolution filed by Rep. Dalog so that we could finally rectify the flaws in our current political system by introducing major changes in our Constitution,” Tomalabcab told The Freeman.

Proposals from various sectors to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution prompted Dalog to file the resolution.

“In order to resolve the issues on whether or not to amend or revise the Constitution, there is a need to consult the people directly by way of referendum and let their sovereign will prevail,” Dalog said.

Tomalabcab added that, “it’s high time that we adopt the federal-parliamentary form of government in order to arrest economic slowdown, era-dicate corruption, ban political dynasty and stop political insanity.”

KPM is strongly supporting the call of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno for a Charter Change through Constitutional Convention.

“In Region-7, KPM chapters are all out support the call for Charter Change, it is high time to revise the Constitution which is no longer responsive to the need of the Filipino people,” Tomalabcab said.

He stressed that they are strongly supporting the position of Puno that the revision of the 1987 Constitution through a Con-Con is imperative at this point in time in order to avert an impending political gridlock given the issue on the unconstitutionality of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

This is also in response to the clamor of those in the countryside to change the form of the government to Federal-Parliamentary system, he added. —/FPL (FREEMAN)