TWENTY-TWO members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 11, voted against the measure proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
The Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, or the “Resolution of Both Houses Proposing the Revision of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines,” was passed on third and final reading at the House Tuesday, with 224 affirmative votes, 22 negative votes and three abstention.
If approved by the Senate and the President, this resolution would have the force and effect of a law.
Some of the 22 dissenters explained why they voted "No" to the resolution.
Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano said he voted against RBH 15 as it is not the priority of the Filipinos.
"Ano ba ang prayoridad na problema ng ating mga kababayan? Ayon sa ating mga kababayan, ang kanilang prayoridad ngayon ay pagkain, trabaho, at ang mataas na presyo ng bilihin. Ito dapat ang mabilisan nating tinututukan at tinugunan,” he said.
(What concerns should be given priority? Our countrymen tell us that the priority now is food, job and soaring prices of goods. The government should immediately address these.)
Alejano likewise said the provisions of the proposed constitution should be amended to ensure that it fulfills its objective of providing more local autonomy to local government units.
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman shared Alejano's sentiment as he pointed out that many Filipinos are not aware of federalism, according to the recent SWS survey.
Lagman further stressed that no less than the President’s chief economist, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Ernesto Pernia, stated that the country is not prepared for federalism and that only the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog (Calabarzon), and lately Cebu or only four out of the possible 18 federated regions have the political and economic infrastructure that would allow them to adopt federalism.
“It is foolhardy for the Duterte administration to embrace federalism with inordinate alacrity,” said Lagman.
Representative Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao cited as reasons for her negative vote the lack of provision prohibiting political dynasty, the two party system and the provision that added in the qualifications of congressmen a college diploma.
“Bilang taga-Mindanao, ako po ay matagal nang advocate ng pederalismo, pero kahit pederalismo ay hindi maayos na naipaliwanag sa panukalang ito, kaya ang boto ko po ay NO sa Resolution of Both Houses No. 15,” added Bag-ao.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate of the Makabayan bloc said the establishment of federal states by the Congress under RBH 15 and the removal of term limits for congressmen are dangerous.
“Delikado ito dahil di alam ng mamamayan kung ano ang plano ng Kongreso para dito at kung ano ang kahihinatnan nito,” he said.
“Ang mas malala pa ay ang pinagtuunan ng RBH 15 ay ang pagtanggal sa term limits ng mga pulitiko at ang kanselasyon ng eleksyon sa 2019. Tinanggal din ng RBH 15 ang probisyon sa kasalukuyang Konstitusyon ng pagbabawal sa political dynasty para maengganyo ang mga pulitiko mula sa mga senador hanggang sa mga konsehal,” he added.
Anak Mindanao Party-list Representative Amihilda Sangcopan, for her part, said “the proposed constitutional changes, do not, in any way, reflect the campaign for federalism.”
“This proposal merely reiterates the legislative function of Congress in enacting laws to create local government units and autonomous regions,” she said.
“Adopting state policies on bill of duties, a two-party system and the extension of terms for the President will surely curtail the freedom of expression condtitutionally guaranteed to us, the sovereign people,” added Sangcopan.
Sangcopan also noted that having the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” added to the economic provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution will disenfranchise the Filipino people.
“It will authorize foreign nationals to acquire and own property and services that should be owned and controlled by the Filipino people. For centuries, the Bangsamoro experienced historical injustices which substantially resulted to the land dispossession against the Moro people. This started the Bangsamoro struggle,” Sangcopan said. (SunStar Philippines)