CON-ASS, MY ASS! NOT CONGRESS --- Despite being a congressman myself before ( or maybe precisely because I was one before), I do not trust Congress to do a constituent assembly (Con-Ass) -- never mind how many times Speaker Belmonte shall swear to high heavens that Congress will support only those that will deal on economic reforms. There is a need for a comprehensive review, not the knee-jerk type. Even the timing will be put to a question now that President Aquino is nearing term end with the naughty suggestions of lifting of term limits (although I have no doubt that they cannot hack if, even if they want to). Lets do this, as they say, with feeling. MY FORMULA-- Let President Aquino leave a legacy to the Filipinos. He can call for the convening of a constitutional convention (Con-Con), the delegates to be elected in 2016 to coincide with the national elections. This way we separate the men from the boys: those more political can run for public office and the less political to the con-con. If done simultaneously with regular elections, lameducks rejected in that election by the people dont get a second option to inflict themselves on the people. Then let the con-con be convened early in the next administration. That way, an honest-to-goodness cha-cha can be done. This may take more time and more resources. But theres no other better way if we want to reform as a nation. Indeed, there are many reasons why we need to take another look at our Constitution, not only those pertaining to the economic provisions, but including the political and the whole gamut of our basic law that need alignment with the realities of todays fast-clipped global pace.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 05:41:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015