7 more con-com members named

President Arroyo has named seven more delegates to the consultative commission (con-com) tasked to study possible amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the new appointments brought to 48 the total number of con-com members.

The new appointees are Court of Appeals Justice Omar Amir, lawyers Andres Bautista, Raul Lambino and Betty Lourdes Tabanda, businessman Noel Cariño of Fil-Estate companies, Liberato Laus, and Sister Luz Emmanuel Soriano, president of the Philippine Council for Peace and Global Education.

The seven new appointees will join the 42 other members who began work last week on the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Con-com members are also expected to help promote the President’s Charter change initiative during their three-month stint with the commission.

Jose Abueva, former president of the University of the Philippines, was elected chairman of the commission while Rolando Dizon, member of the De La Salle University board of trustees was chosen as second-in-command.

The regional heads are Oscar Rodriguez (Luzon), Pablo Garcia, (Visayas), Pedro Romualdo (Mindanao), and Carmen Pedrosa (Metro Manila). Lito Monico Lorenzana was chosen as the secretary-general.

The President can choose up to 50 personalities to serve on the con-com. Of those handpicked by the President, only Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte declined to serve on the commission due to his workload.

Presidential Management Staff chief Rigoberto Tiglao said Malacañang is hoping Congress will consider the recommendations the commission will submit to the President before the end of the year.

He said the people who compose the committee have shown "probity, experience, competence, integrity and exposure to governance." — Aurea Calica