|
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Concom: Abolish term limits
The Consultative Commission on constitutional amendments (Concom) wants the term limits imposed on public officials lifted, former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia said yesterday.
Garcia said he backed this proposal during deliberations, because term limits have not accomplished their purpose of preventing political dynasties anyway.
The 55-member commission, which presented its proposals to Malacañang last Dec. 16, also pushed for state subsidies for political parties “to prevent corruption.”
Garcia told Sun.Star Cebu that lifting the term limits that officials now face would be in accordance with democracy, because this gives people the freedom of choice.
If an official is not doing well with his duties, the public will not reelect him after one term, he said.
He said politicians circumvent term limits by fielding their wives, sons and other family members.
The lifting of term limits was the consensus of the members of the commission. It was also the request of local officials during consultations.
As to the proposal for the government to fund political parties, Garcia said this will strengthen the two-party system because only the two dominant parties will get subsidies.
As it is, the multi-party system in the Philippines is not working and it seems there is no party system at all, he added.
“Way prinsipyo, personality ra (There are no principles, only personalities),” Garcia said.
The Concom was created to help draft amendments to the Constitution.
President Arroyo, in a speech last July, said the country’s basic law must be changed so we can shift to another system of government.
Concom conducted consultations in several areas, and ceased to exist last Dec. 16 when it finished its task.
But Garcia said changing the Constitution is now “a long shot,” considering the bickering among national officials.
Arroyo was counting on a constituent assembly to do the job, wherein incumbent members of the Lower House and the Senate would convene as one body and make the amendments.
But resistance continues to mar the efforts at the Senate, as the tenure of some senators will be cut short in case the country starts to shift to a parliamentary system. (JPM)
(December 27, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
