|
Monday, October 10, 2005
Concom to assist House on Charter change
MANILA -- Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Sunday the Malacañang-organized Consultative Commission (Concom) will help speed up and not replace the work of Congress in changing the country's Constitution.
The Concom, Bunye said, was created to get the people's views on the proposed amendments in the 1987 Constitution that would lead to a change in government from presidential to a unicameral parliamentary system.
Bunye, who is also the presidential spokesman, said the people should not put any partisan color in the Concom, which he said is a mere study group. Bunye said Concom's recommendations "will go into the formal process without undue interference in the functions and prerogatives of Congress."
"There is nothing wrong in having a consultative body to do the spadework on Charter change. The administration is steering clear of the work of the commission because we want to know what is in the peoples' mind on Charter change--outside of the arena of a highly politicized atmosphere," he said.
Lito Monico Lorenzana, secretary general and spokesman of the Concom, said they are not duplicating the work of Congress but they intend to assist legislators and work closely and coordinate with them in changing the Charter. Legislators, Lorenzana said, are now busy going over important bills like the budget.
He said they were even assured by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Constantino Jaraula, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments that they would wait for the Concom to submit its recommendation before Congress starts the discussion on Charter change.
"The Concom does not or is not empowered to amend the 1987 Constitution, it is only Congress. Therefore, we have to work closely with them. We can consult with them and propose, write the necessary changes. They are so busy with so many things, they cannot even face up with the problem of the budget, etc so we need a group like us, the Concom who are looking deeply into this," he said.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia said he sees no conflict between the Concom's work and the House plenary deliberations on the Jaraula panel's report.
Complementary
"They can go hand in hand. These are two complementary moves because we are being guided by the same philosophy in seeking Charter amendments," de Venecia said.
"We've been discussing these proposed amendments for years with Prof. Jose Abueva and Carmen Pedrosa, because these are changes the country needs urgently to end years of political gridlock and create an economic structure that can similarly attract direct investments that are flowing into China, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries," he added.
Abueva heads the commission. Pedrosa is one of its leading members.
De Venecia said more than 95 percent of the country's nationwide network of local government units (LGUs) have allied with the House of Representatives and civil society groups in calling for a shift to a unicameral parliamentary government and other key amendments.
He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also called on leaders and members of Kampi to fully back the Lakas-led campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution.
"There is no going back on this campaign," de Venecia said.
He said leaders of the majority coalition have finalized consultations to work out the adjustments in various committees following the post-impeachment reorganization of the House.
He said the consultations involved leaders of the ruling Lakas CMD, the Nationalist People's Coalition, members of the Atienza-led Liberal Party, the Nacionalista Party and other parties allied with the administration. (JMR/JFF/ Sunnex)
(October 10, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Frustrated murder case expected Monday v. frat man