Anti-dynasty provision in charter pushed

MANILA, Philippines — A member of the consultative committee (Concom) tasked by President Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution has expressed hope that the next set of lawmakers in Congress would reconsider including the anti-political dynasty provision in the draft charter.

Antonio Eduardo Nachura, retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, is banking on the May elections to bring in more lawmakers who are amenable to a ban on political dynasties.

Holding a dialogue with the House of Representatives is no longer viable, according to Nachura, as the midterm elections are just a few months away.

“There might be a change in membership in the House and in the Senate so we may be in a position to reconsider,” Nachura told journalists during the national summit on federalism held in Manila recently.

Nachura said the 22-member Concom does not agree with the approved draft of the House, wherein there is no provision for a ban on political dynasties.

He said House leaders were initially open to an anti-dynasty bill provision, provided they would remove term limits.

They are also objecting to a provision regarding  power to decide whether a particular geographical location may be converted to a federal state or not, unlike in their version where 18 federated states have been enumerated.

Nachura said the Concom, being a presidential creation, does not have the power of Congress which can effect change in the Constitution through a vote of three-fourths of the members of the House and the Senate.

“The Constitution does not grant the same privilege to the President of the Philippines and so whatever we propose does not have the real force unless the President takes it upon himself to really campaign for these reforms with Congress,” Nachura said.