Drilon bats for con-con in Charter change

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Franklin Drilon has sought the approval of a resolution seeking a review of the 1987 Constitution through a constitutional convention (con-con).

Drilon filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1) as the Duterte administration is set to push for a shift to a federal system through Charter change.

“There is a need to re-examine the Constitution to determine if it is still attuned or responsive to the demands of present-day realities,” Drilon said.

“The common good would be best served if the review of, and proposals to amend or revise the Constitution would be made through and by a constitutional convention whose delegates are to be elected by the people for such purpose,” he said.

RBH 1 calls for a convention, whose members shall be elected on the last Monday of January next year, to propose amendments to, or revision of the 29-year-old Constitution.

He said to maintain the non-partisan nature of the process, Section 3 of RBH 1 provides that no member of Congress at the time of adoption of the resolution shall be qualified as a candidate for election as delegate to the convention.

The same section also prohibits candidates in the May 2016 elections to qualify as a candidate for election as con-con delegate.

Con-con favored

Meanwhile, former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that President Duterte prefers the shift in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary system through constitutional convention than constituent assembly.

“President Duterte wants to amend the basic law through a constitutional convention of delegates elected by the people,” he told  told The STAR.

Pimentel said although con-con is a more tedious process, it is also more people-oriented as the public will to revise the charter will be properly manifested.