SENATE leaders on Friday confirmed wide support for a Constituent assembly rather than a Constitutional convention as the preferred mode for amending the 1987 Constitution to shift to a federal form of government favored by President Duterte.
In separate interviews, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto and Minority Leader Ralph Recto voiced an emerging consensus in the 24-man chamber backing the so-called “Con-ass option” being the more practical and cheaper option than calling another election for Con-con delegates when incumbent lawmakers can do the job.
“Yes. It is inexpensive,” Sotto said when asked about Duterte administration officials’ preference for current members of Congress to pass the Palace endorsed amendment to the Constitution, saying this would save taxpayers some P5 billion to elect and maintain a Con-con.
Recto also agreed with Duterte’s view “that the practical-pragmatic approach is a Constituent assembly.”
Recto asserted, however, that the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, before proceeding to tackle the amendment to shift to a federal system of government should first resolve the manner of voting when the two chambers convene as a Con-ass.
“The first issue to be discussed is do we vote jointly or separately?,” Recto told the BusinessMirror, saying “the Senate must insist [on voting] separately.”
For now, he admitted being “against shifting to a parliamentary federal form of government.”
Recto recalled that “we have tried a unicameral and parliamentary in the past. Instead of federalism let’s have true meaningful local autonomy,” he suggested.
Apart from Con-ass mode being inexpensive, Sotto expressed concern that electing delegates to a Con-con could only open the door to more relatives of incumbent officials.
“Sa tingin mo ba pag nag-election ng delegado ay mananalo ang gusto nating kandidato? Hindi kaya asawa lang ni mayor o ni congressman ang manalo?” he asked.
Sotto added that aside from spending P5 billion for the election of Con-con delegates, additional taxpayers money would also be spent estimated at “another P5 billion for the Con-con delegates’ salaries, allowances, staffs and offices.”
“Iyong Con-con delegates to be elected will also have the same issues; baka mas malala pa,” he said.
Instead, Sotto suggested that, “we should just appoint a Council of Elders to oversee the Con-ass, like Fr. Joaquin Bernas and company.”
At the same time, Sen. Richard Gordon also welcomed Malacañang’s endorsement of Congress convening as a Constituent assembly instead of a Con-con.
In a statement, Gordon said Malacañang’s decision to transform the legislative body into a Constituent assembly is “a very welcome development.”
“It is a most welcome development. The people-elected senators and congressmen are possible amenders of the Constitution. It is more expedient,” said Gordon, who earlier called for Con-sss as a means to amend the Constitution following the strong clamor for Charter change.
He prefers to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to introduce revisions and amendments to the 1987 Constitution, agreeing it is the least expensive “and it is the most expeditious mode compared to constitutional convention and people’s initiative.”