Con-com official welcomes Lakas-CMD support for Charter change

The former secretary general of the presidential consultative commission (con-com) welcomed yesterday the support from the pro-administration Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats for its seven proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Among the proposed changes was an extension of the terms of elected officials until 2010 and a cancellation of general elections in 2007.

"I agree thoroughly with the position of Lakas," said former con-com Secretary General Lito Monico Lorenzana.

"This is a good development. They are heeding the call of the con-com to look at the bigger picture and not just no-el (no elections) which is just a part of it."

Earlier, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the majority coalition led by the Lakas-CMD had agreed to support the seven proposed amendments to the political and economic provisions in the Constitution, including the controversial proposal to extend the terms of incumbent elected officials.

However, De Venecia said the con-com proposal to scrap the 2007 midterm elections was still subject to debate.

"We will formalize our support to Charter and political reforms in the meeting of the national directorate of Lakas and also in the caucus of the ruling majority this month," he said.

De Venecia said the majority coalition comprising the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the Liberal Party (LP), the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino and Nacionalista Party, are still debating the proposal.

"But we still have to discuss extensively the no-el (no elections) proposal, which (has) many pros and cons," he said.

Most members of the majority coalition noted the benefits of adopting a unicameral parliamentary system since it would greatly reduce gridlock between the chambers of Congress and the Legislative branch, De Venecia said.

While welcoming the support of Lakas-CMD, Lorenzana appealed to the majority coalition to reconsider its position on the no-el issue. — Mike Frialde