EDITORIAL - Junked effort

No one expected smooth sailing for the new constitution drafted by a consultative committee that President Duterte formed for his planned shift to a federal system of government. Not even the Concom members, however, must have expected their work of over half a year to be unceremoniously tossed out the window by the House of Representatives, with many congressmen clearly not even bothering to read the draft charter.

Instead the House quickly passed its own draft, first through a voice vote and then by formal voting. In both instances, the congressmen voted overwhelmingly to approve their version of Charter change, with the shift to federalism just an option.

The Concom version looked doomed as soon as it was finalized. The President’s economic managers themselves led the strong opposition to what they warned would be a costly move that could wreak havoc on fiscal stability of the government. Senators vowed to sit on any proposal that would effectively abolish their chamber. And lawmakers were expected to fight the Concom’s proposal to abolish term limits for all elective officials except the president – but only if dynasty building is regulated.

Not surprisingly, the Concom members expressed surprise and dismay over the House version. Among its salient points, which differed with the Concom proposal, were the lifting of term limits but without any curbs on political dynasties; the creation of a bicameral presidential-federal system, and the restoration of the vice president to the line of succession.

The House has agreed to separate voting for Cha-cha. Both the Senate and the Commission on Elections, however, have stressed that time has run out for completing any work by the current Congress that would lead to Cha-cha and a change in the system of government.

What happens now to the work of the Concom? It’s not the first time that effort, time and public funds were expended to draw up changes in the 1987 Constitution. Joseph Estrada, during his presidency, also formed the Preparatory Commission on Constitutional Reforms, chaired by former chief justice Andres Narvasa. Its members completed their work in December 1999, with the report now gathering dust.

During the presidency of Estrada’s successor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cha-cha proponents tried the quicker route, through a signature campaign for a people’s initiative. With the rushed collection of signatures that could not be verified, the effort collapsed.

Constitutions can use periodic amendments. Filipinos, however, have consistently resisted any attempt by politicians to use Cha-cha for their self-serving agenda. The Concom’s work is the latest casualty.