Do you agree that the 1987 Charter is to blame for the political chaos we experience today?

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: We are the only Asian nation with a presidential form of government that is based on a multi-party system, aggravated by the party list system.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: The multi-party system, party list provisions, and the three-year term of elected local officials are just three among the many causes of chaos and confusion.  

We, the people, are to blame

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It’s us and our gullibility that are to blame for the political chaos stalking us. We keep electing corrupt, incompetent and undeserving national leaders.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: No, we ought to blame ourselves. As a nation, we are politically immature, we have a damaged culture, and we never learn. We only reap what we sow.  

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: The 1987 Constitution may have a part in the political chaos we are experiencing today, but the blame must be shouldered by us voters who elected our leaders.  

Why blame the Charter?

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: The 1987 Constitution should not be blamed for our present chaotic situation.  

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: The Constitution is not to blame. It is the supreme law of the land that should be followed by the people. It is the people, such as some politicians, who should be blamed for the political chaos in the country. Constitutional manipulation happened several years ago, especially during the Marcos era when then President Marcos changed our form of government from presidential (American) to parliamentary (British) then to being presidential-parliamentary (French). During the current and incumbent administration, several attempts were made to make proposed amendments in the Constitution but these were unsuccessful.  

Lincoln Alagad, Parañaque City: I say, show me how the 1987 Constitution is to blame for the political chaos we are experiencing today.  

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: I don’t. While the 1987 Constitution may not be perfect, it was written with the noble intention of restoring democracy in our country and making sure that we will have a government of, for and by the people. I believe that it’s today’s breed of politicians, whose greed for power and wealth is insatiable, who should get the brunt of the blame. No matter how many times we amend our Constitution, this political chaos we are experiencing today will always be with us for as long as we have the kind of politicians we have in our political arena.  

Ours is a damaged culture

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: To each his own interpretation ‘yan. We have to admit that Filipinos, by nature, are abusive and walang contentment. Faultfinders pa.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: It’s not the Constitution that is at fault; it’s our damaged culture and us.  

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: The 1987 Constitution has nothing to do with our political chaos. Our politicized judicial, prosecution and law enforcement bodies are at fault. 

Our leaders dishonor us

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The 1987 Constitution is not to blame for the present political chaos because it is due to the immoral practices that are tolerated by our national leaders who are motivated by unending greed of power and wealth.  

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: Our problem is not the 1987 Constitution, but the abusive leaders that govern us. Let’s always vote for the right people to run our country.  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: No, I don’t agree. It’s the political clans, political patronage and the 3Gs, among many others, that are the reasons for our political chaos.  

Maricel Maralit, Naga City: Our Constitution is not perfect, but it’s unfair to blame it for the political chaos we are in. Blame it on the never-ending squabbles of our power-hungry politicians.  

Arvin Padual, Quezon City: The 1987 Constitution should not be blamed for the political chaos we experience today, but the politicians who deliberately violate it.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: No, we are in this sorry state because of power-hungry leaders, who have little or no respect at all for the fundamental laws of the land.  

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Ang dapat po’ng sisihin ay ang mga pulitikong ganid at lasing sa kapangyarihan, hindi ang 1987 Constitution.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Partly yes, but it is our dirty politicians who continue to trample our weak Constitution and they are to blame for our political mess today.  

Our country has gone to the dogs

Elpidio Que, Vigan: It would be presumptuous of me to comment whether or not the 1987 Constitution is to blame. I am not a lawyer and I am not knowledgeable on this subject. What I know is that the Charter was devised to right the wrongs of the previous one that so favored the late Ilocano president. However, the chaos we are currently experiencing is the product of the corruption and decadence of the politicians we have today. Politics is a lucrative business. We now even have these party lists, like the one for security guards with Mikey Arroyo as its nominee; APO, that has our pro-Arroyo ex-congressman as its nominee; and the one having Palparan as the same, among others. Moreover, we have Pacquiao as congressman of Sarangani, who was, at the same time, the PBA party list nominee! To the dogs our country goes.  

Reign of opportunism

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte; No, our opportunist lawmakers and lawyers who abuse the provisions of the 1987 Constitution for purposes of accommodation and convenience are to blame.  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: The political chaos is caused by people with hidden agenda. Look at the latest decision of the Supreme Court on midnight appointments.  

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: No, blame the implementors, elected senators and congressmen, Justices of the Court, along with the dirty politicians, political dynasties, oligarchs, rich and powerful people, influence peddlers, biased media and hypocritical, unconscionable leaders in our country. No amount of successive revisions of our Constitution can remedy this political chaos as long as greed and lust for power are in the minds of these evil people. 

Col. Bob Rocio (GSC) Ret., Makati City: I do not agree. It’s because numerous greedy politicians like GMA and her allies, as well as opportunists and hypocrites like Gibo Teodoro, exist.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Partly, yes, but the biggest part of the blame falls on the shoulders of the politicians. The situation is like a young, poor but beautiful girl who wants to finish college. Here comes a politician who offers to help provided that she agrees to be his mistress. Charter change will only make them stay in power longer, especially when only one party controls the legislature. Our poor and ignorant voters can only watch in awe!  

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: The chaos is not due to the 1987 Constitution, but due to the fact that most of those who are in power, our so-called leaders in all branches of government, have lost all delicadeza and sense of fair play. Sadly, the political leadership in our country is treated as an easy road to power with huge financial gains and without true accountability. No wonder there were 49,996 Filipinos vying for 17, 874 political positions.  

No to multi-party system, party lists

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Yes, the 1987 Constitution has created this multi-party chaos and confusion that we are experiencing now. It’s one good reason to amend the Constitution to excise this octopus.  

Marc Avisado, Ilocos Sur: The multi-party system of the Cory Aquino-inspired 1987 Constitution is not effective in the presidential system of government. It may be more effective under the parliamentary form of government. In the US, the two-party system has been successful for hundreds of years. In the 1960s, the Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party slugged it out for the support of the Filipino voters. Under the current system, the electorate is confused as to who the real opposition is. The party-list system is being abused by politicos who have no chance of winning in local and national elections.  

Felix Ramento, USA: Yes, the multi-party system and the party-list representations have made a mockery of our electoral process. Politicians of different colors and convictions feasted on this Constitutional anomaly.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Yes, and I say enough of multiple parties. Let us revert to the two-party system, which was orderly and predictable.  

Bernard Nillo, Bacnotan: Yes, the 1987 Constitution is to blame because it’s full of loopholes. A crowded presidential race does a lot of damage to the country.  

We need Charter change

Nony de Leon, Malolos City: The 1987 Charter has so many provisions that require change, but the most urgent is to reduce or even eliminate nationally elected positions. This will greatly slash the expenses of candidates and the consequent need to resort to corruption in order to raise or recover money. Elections will be less complicated and less expensive for the Comelec. The need for Charter change is obvious but no candidate for national office has really pushed for it. Change is not for the establishment.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Blame today’s political chaos on those anti-Cha-cha advocates, politicians, bishops, anti-GMA protesters and leftists. Otherwise. we wouldn’t be having this multi-party system.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: I cannot blame the 1987 Constitution as the cause of the political chaos we are experiencing today. I may even say that the 1987 Constitution is an airtight control system adaptable 23 years ago. In this time of socio-economic-political uncertainty, on top of our misfortune of having egotistical clowns and world-class thieves as leaders, we cannot even expect to have a grand vision for the nation. Charter change must be encouraged and resolved dramatically through a vote. But we must guard against the egotistical clowns and the oligarchs who are enjoying the present situation because they will make sure Cha-cha does not happen.  

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Yes, our chaotic politics stems from serious flaws and ambiguities in the poorly crafted Cory Constitution. Changing our political system will cut down political noise.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Yes, the 1987 Constitution is partly to blame. There are some laws that were probably overlooked during the time the Constitution was being drafted, unmindful of its repercussions and consequences. We cannot completely blame the drafters because it was made in the wake of the post-Marcos regime and the People Power Revolution so the country then was still undergoing a crash-and-burn stage and the post-Marcos effect was still on everybody’s mind.  

We choose our leaders

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Absolutely not. Our elected officials are mostly to blame for bringing the political chaos and we voters must share the blame for tolerating this sordid affair. Many of our leaders have prioritized their self-serving agenda rather than the public good. It is very ironic that those so-called freedom fighters during the Marcos dictatorship have become the faithful subalterns of the Arroyo regime, which is shamelessly aping Marcos’ strategies to perpetuate itself in power ad nauseam. Power corrupts and many of them willingly allow themselves to be corrupted. Poor Philippines.  

We should have retained the 1935 Constitution

Carlito Pajaro, Quezon City; Yes, the 1987 Constitution formulated during the Cory Aquino regime is to blame for all the political chaos we are experiencing now.  

Jose Sevilla Jr., Quezon City: The 1935 Constitution should have been left alone, except for necessary amendments to suit present needs. We would have been saved from the vagaries of the present.  

Our Charter was done in haste and out of hatred

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: Yes, the 1987 Charter has provisions affecting politics that lack wisdom. It was influenced by a revolutionary fervor that was more emotional than reasonable.  

Bax Cadiogan, Misamis Oriental: Absolutely; it was done out of hatred, in haste, and to “de-Marcosify” everything.  

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: The Cory Constitution is to blame for the political chaos we are experiencing today. Multi-party system kasi kaya ang daming kumakandidato.  

Our Consitution is defective

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Yes, and not only political chaos, but the power crisis as well, as not enough nationals invest on power plants, to the detriment of foreign investment.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: I can say that the 1987 Constitution is full of loopholes and is defective. It’s being clawless is the root cause of political chaos in the country.  

The Charter was drafted by oligarchs

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Yes, because it’s a Constitution drafted by oligarchs. It safeguards the rights and privileges of the few but influential clans. 

Alex Jacinto, Gapan City: Indeed, the 1987 Constitution is to blame. It has many flaws and loopholes that trapos find it easy to enrich themselves while in position.  

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: The 1987 Constitution has many provisions that cause chaos because it gives greedy, unpatriotic, selfish moguls and oligarchs leeway to operate.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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