Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Charter change overtaken already by upcoming elections: senator
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Monday advised the Arroyo administration to be realistic by accepting the fact that it is no longer possible to pursue Charter change - whether by people's initiative or constituent assembly (Con-Ass) - before the 2007 elections.
Pimentel debunked the statement of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita that a plebiscite on the proposed constitutional amendments can still be conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) before the elections in May next year.
He said Ermita should be forthright enough to admit that the proposed adoption of a unicameral parliamentary system has already been overtaken by preparations for the congressional and local elections.
Pimentel noted that the Supreme Court (SC) has announced that it will not be able to decide on the petition for people's initiative for Charter change earlier than the end of October. Any high court ruling on the petition can still be appealed by the losing petitioner, which will take more time.
Moreover, Pimentel said the Comelec needs at least a three months of preparation for the holding of plebiscite nationwide. By that time, the election period will have already been in high gear.
On the alternative option to convert Congress into a Con-Ass, he said that is even more problematic.
"That would be a most difficult thing to do not only because the Senate would scrutinize every word in any move to amend the Constitution but also because time is running out on our legislative calendar," Pimentel said.
He explained that when Congress resumes session in November, it would be less than 18 session days before the Christmas break begins.
"By that time, members of Congress would be loathe to spend time breaking their heads in debates on whether or not a particular provision of the Constitution should be amended," Pimentel said.
Pimentel said the minds of all congressmen and 12 senators would be focused not on Charter change but on their reelection or on the election of their local candidates. (CPB/Sunnex)
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