Palace to House: Rethink stand on political dynasties

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang expressed hope lawmakers will rethink their decision not to ban political dynasties in the proposed federalism charter after the President Duterte-backed consultative committee (Concom) rejected the bill passed by the House of Representatives.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said members of Congress should listen to Concom chair former chief justice Reynato Puno and be open to amendments.

Panelo said if the proposed new constitution would go against the interest of the people, the President would campaign against it.

He said the people could reject the proposed amendments to the Constitution and then that would be a waste of people’s money. 

“At this time, it may be premature to judge members of Congress on the draft. It’s not yet final. They can always reconsider, they can always review. Mahaba pa naman ang panahon (Still a long way to go),” Panelo said.

Puno said the whole Con-com does not agree with the approved draft of the House of Representatives.

He expressed apprehension that the power of politicians who belong to political dynasties would be unlimited, which could arise if the House version is approved.

When he ran for office, Duterte espoused the shift to a federal form of government with the view that it would address national economic and power imbalances.

Panelo insisted that the current unitary system of government has failed the people by keeping resources and power centralized.

Last Tuesday, the House passed on third and final reading Resolution No. 15 that seeks, among others, a shift to a federal form of government, the removal of term limits for lawmakers and lifting of the anti-political dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution.

Puno, who headed the Concom that was appointed by Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution, warned the public that the federal charter proposed by the House is a “disaster to democracy” as he warned the public not to support it. 

“We will inform the people about our position. It’s a bogus federalism – a disaster to democracy to support that kind of federalism,” Puno said. 

Puno explained that Congress’ version of federalism is similar to the current unitary form of government, which means that it did not establish the concept of federalism when it did not include provisions on anti-political dynasty and when it lifted term limits.

He said that only politicians with political dynasties, cartels and monopolies will likely benefit from the Congress’ federal charter.  – With Robertzon Ramirez