People are organizing

I was surprised when I got a text from a former classmate to please attend a reunion of classmates. I usually don’t attend class reunions (to avoid being conscious of my age!) but I gather that the call for a class reunion was for a special reason. Neither was it isolated because I soon found out that my class was just one group among many that are being organized by ordinary people to respond to critical times. It is happening because ordinary people are worried that if they stay on the sidelines, events might overtake their capacity to do anything about it.

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In a chat show in Sentro ng Katotohanan broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday on DWBL from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m., the reluctant former Chief Justice Reynato Puno announced that he was prepared to head a coalition for constitutional reform (Constitutional reformists have stopped using the term Cha-cha, short for Charter change. They are now aware that it was part of the strategy of anti-reformers to ridicule the advocacy).

After his call for a national debate for constitutional reform in UP College of Law, he was quick to follow it up with action. We cannot continue this prolonged to and fro, to change or not to change, he said. Our actions must have a deadline. It must be fulfilled.

At the same time, he was not averse to working with the present government under the leadership of President Noynoy and hopes he will change his mind and see constitutional reform as vital to the success of his government. Moreover he has a unique opportunity to make it his legacy. The former chief justice was unfazed by comments coming from the Palace that say it was not one of the President’s priorities.

It will be recalled that Puno was earlier asked to run for president in the May 10 elections but turned it down saying his grandchildren objected. The task of consolidating a huge compelling movement that will produce warm bodies is tough. It is more difficult and challenging than seeking the presidency.

That he changed his mind demonstrates that he, too, like many others would not watch the country deteriorate and do nothing about it. He warns that the Philippines was on the verge of becoming a failed state. As a man who uses his words carefully he said, “let us do something about it now and not when the country is in the ICU.”

Interestingly much of the work of organizing has been focused on the non political sectors — leaders from the academe, church, labor and other sectors.

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We don’t have to look far to find that there are members of Aquino’s cabinet who were ardent supporters of constitutional reform long before President Noynoy became president — the most prominent of them is current Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.

He wrote a position paper when he was the congressman from Batanes which has been unearthed by the group CoRRECT, a debate group in Facebook. The paper is long but it ought to be required reading for Filipinos who insist on maintaining the status quo no matter the damage that our politics and system of government has done to the Filipino nation.

The paper was entitled “Should the Philippines Turn Parliamentary?” I can only excerpt parts of the paper so that readers will read the paper itself.

“In attempting to answer the question, ‘Why is a parliamentary system a more appropriate framework of government, compared to a presidential system, in improving the capacity of government to function more effectively and in facilitating the consolidation of democracy?’ As bases for comparison, five capacities that are necessary for effective governance in the Philippines will be used.

“These are the capacities to: prevent gridlock and promote consensus in governance, ensure stability and continuity in governance, strengthen accountability in governance, promote cohesive and disciplined political parties, and promote a broader based and inclusive politics through a multi-party system. For sure, this is not an exhaustive list.

“A final point: the route to reform. Constitutional change, in any setting and however beneficial, always invites controversy and enormous problems. Reformers need a strong case to justify any alteration to the fundamental law of the land.

“For example, the 1986 People Power Revolution, because of massive failure in the government, enabled President Aquino to discard Marcos’ 1973 Constitution and rule under a decreed “Freedom Constitution.” The latter was subsequently replaced by the 1987 Constitution drafted by a Commission of appointed delegates.

“The euphoria and sense of urgency that surrounded these exercises in constitutional reform and formation no longer exist. A strong case for a new round of constitutional amendments needs to be presented. Whether the current situation in the Philippines presents such a case is debatable. But proponents of either a parliamentary or semi-presidential system do not have to wait for such a situation to ripen, if, indeed, it does not exist yet.

“They can begin the process of institutional reforms through legislative initiatives, such as reform of the campaign finance rules, simplification of the election process, institutionalization of the party list system, amendments of party formation and affiliation rules, among other enactments.

“Apart from living the institutional foundation for amendments in the Constitution, legislative reforms will also address the reservations of those suspicious of the changes. Most important, the reform will demonstrate the will, commitment and sincerity of the reformers.”

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In Congress we also have stalwarts for constitutional reform. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile have made favorable statements. There are still senators who think they can make a name for themselves by simply being against it for personal and political reasons. But they will soon be isolated.

Filipinos support constitutional reform as the alternative to violent anarchy unless the present crisis is preempted by peaceful means.

One of the stumbling blocks is how to interpret Congress in the amendment provision of the Constitution. Did it mean Congress as the two Houses deliberating and voting jointly or separately? With Speaker Belmonte and Senate President Enrile’s coming together that issue may be finally resolved. 

But they have to be supported by the people who have to organize a show of force to prove they, not politicians are sovereign (the boss) in this democratic, republic of the Philippines. Let’s not just wait and see. Let us act out our sovereignty.

Former National Security Adviser, Gen. Jose Almonte will be the guest on Sentro ng Katotohan on Thursday, February 10.