ANAKPAWIS Party-list Representative Ariel Casilao is opposed to the proposal of the sub-panel of the Consultative Committee to include in the new Constitution the college degree requirement for aspiring lawmakers.
Casilao said it is anti-democratic, anti-poor and violative of the basic rights of every Filipino who aspires to serve the people.
"The proposal will ensure that the poor in this country will not have any elected representative in the government coming from their ranks," Casilao said.
Casilao believes that one’s educational background should not be a hindrance to run for government posts.
He noted that the poor has produced able leaders like the late labor leader and lawmaker Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran and former lawmaker and former Department of Agriculture chief Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano.
"These mass leaders of the people’s movement have proven beyond doubt that the main thing in elective posts is the spirit of serving the people, not college degrees," Casilao stressed.
Casilao urged the Con-Com "not to close the door to ordinary, poor and property-challenged Filipinos who want to serve the country on their capacity."
The Consultative Committee has yet to vote on the proposal of its sub-panel on the college degree requirement once it resumes sessions after the Lenten break. (Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines)