Table Talk By: Mike S. Apostol Charter Change maybe solution to PHL woes The move for a Charter Change (chacha) in Congress, initiated by House Speaker Sony Belmonte might be the answer to the Republic’s seemingly helplessness in many aspects of governance domestically and internationally. The present Philippine Constitution which was a product of “People Power bloodless revolution” tends to “tie” the hands of government to decide for the country’s future on the aspect of local and national elections, selection of membership to vital Constitutional Bodies, Land use and utilization, Foreign Affairs, Judicial and Penal System and most specially the powers of the President. *** The 1987 Philippine Constitution which was adopted after the revolutionary government of former President, the late Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, mother of our President PNoy, was conceived after the people of Manila ousted former President the late Ferdinand Marcos on charges of dictatorship, ill-gotten wealth, corruption, abuse of power and many other suspicions. These charges fueled the first people power that emboldened the public of Manila with the full backing of the Catholic Church to topple a government that has been in power for over twenty years. People power installed a plain housewife to be President after former senator Benigno Aquino her husband was mercilessly assassinated at the tarmac of the international airport, now named after him upon arrival from America which catapulted him to be considered a “martyr” for “dying for the Filipino people” and lay the blame to the administration of “dictator” Marcos as the assassins. After President Marcos was driven to Hawaii USA in force exile, the Philippines was under a revolutionary government, both houses of Congress was temporarily closed, elected officials were terminated and replaced by “Officers-in-Charge”. The Philippine Republic was run by the installed “people power” President and her cabinet members who were either appointed because of their participation in the peaceful revolution or recommended by the many stakeholders of “people Power”, dominated by the Catholic Church, relatives and other carpetbaggers and political pundits. The officials of the Philippine Government was full of “hatred” and “suspicion” against the past administration of a “Dictator” that when the call to amend the Philippine Constitution to legitimize the “Revolutionary Government”, a Regional Constitutional Commission (RCC) was convened throughout the country to draft a Constitution and whose regional representatives were interviewed and handpicked by the Revolutionary Government’s representatives. *** Many provisions of the Philippine Constitution of 1987 is a product of regional sentiments rather than a national cry for reconciliation, strengthening of the government’s control against the enemies of the state, effective provisions for the conduct of nationalism and patrimony, empowering the people in active participation to governance but with some restriction and control, total independence of the Legislative and the Judicial Departments and lessening the powers of the President specially in appointments of membership to Constitutional Bodies. America, the greatest power and the “policeman of the world” but her President cannot move without the approval of Congress. Although the Philippines copied her democratic system of government from America but it is the total reverse in many aspects and sensational in some. The President of the Philippines is the “most powerful” man in the country because it can “stop” and “veto” any moves from all departments of government. *** The move for a Charter Change must be supported by the members of Congress because this is the time to draw a new future of the country, following President PNoy’s “daang matuwid” and it must be supported by a provision in the constitution and not only directives from the President and his Cabinet. The Philippines is ripe for change through a new Constitution, one that is fair and just, respectable to the eyes of the international community and cautious to the enemies of the State. *** Scoop: If a Charter Change is eminent, it must be drafted by the representatives of the people and not only by the members of a joint Congress of the Philippines because they will look like a “judge and executioner”. Agree or disagree. ***
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 23:26:57 +0000
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