Is this okay with you?

This question is directed to all Filipinos: Are you okay with the House of Representatives drafting a new constitution by themselves as a constituent assembly?

To recap, Rep. Vicente Veloso, chair of the Constitutional Amendments panel, announced last Tuesday that the House is “already operating as a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to modify the 1987 Constitution.” He referred to “House Concurrent Resolution No. 9, filed last January 18, that convened “Congress into a Con-ass” and “proposed joint voting of the Senate and House to revise the prevailing Charter.”

February is the targeted schedule to finish the draft federal charter which was introduced before the House last Monday, with ratification in a plebiscite in May.

As the Constitution is the fundamental law of this land, is it okay with you that the Filipinos are not consulted and involved in the discussion, drafting, and decision-making about the proposed revised charter? Why did the lower house exclude any public consultation or discussion about this very important matter? Also, are the proposed revisions of the draft charter, authored by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, okay with you all?

For one, Arroyo’s draft charter provides that “in case a vacancy arises by reason of removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death of the incumbent President, the incumbent Senate President shall act as President until a President shall have been chosen and qualified.” This provision clearly bypasses Vice President Leni Robredo as successor to Duterte.

Veteran journalist Raissa Robles reminds us that “the 1987 Constitution restricts congressmen to three successive terms of three years each. After which, they have to sit out a term before they can run again for Congress. Senators are restricted to two successive terms of six years each.”

However, the Arroyo draft charter removes term limits for them.

According to Robles, “Arroyo’s proposal would effectively allow her, and all lawmakers, whose terms expire next year, to run. She could also run again for the presidency.”

The draft charter does not address political dynasties as well.

Robles continues that “the House Resolution was quickly endorsed – without public hearing, without debate – to the House plenary for second reading, likely passed on third reading by a simple majority vote.”

Is it okay with you if the present shameless lawmakers decide by themselves to extend their terms without allowing the Filipino people to participate and decide?          

We agree with Robles that “if Arroyo and her allies really want political change, they would place term limits, would state that all incumbent lawmakers cannot run in the 2019 elections to ensure a fresh beginning, and would ban political dynasties, even up to the second degree of marriage, blood and civil partnerships (i.e. the kabit system).”

What do you think about the Arroyo draft charter? Is it okay with you to see the power-loving, power-hungry stay longer in their positions or even move up, even to the presidency?

Rather than prioritizing how to ease the economic burden our people are experiencing with their controversial TRAIN 1 and 2, GMA and her allies have instead been busy solidifying their hold on power through this draft charter. Is this okay with you?

You may wish to seriously spend time to review this draft charter? Refer to http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/first_17/CR00881.pdf.

Form review teams, discuss the provisions, and more importantly, assert your right as a Filipino to participate in the drafting and decision about our Constitution. Before you or I lose any more rights or our democracy, shall we take time together to carefully review, suggest, and insist on public participation in any deliberation and decision about our Constitution?

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