Senator Robin Padilla on Tuesday reminded that the 1987-era Constitution “needs to adjust to changing times.”
”Since so many changes have taken place in the last 35 years,” the senator suggested, “Everyone and everything must adjust to the needs of the times – and our own Constitution is no exception.”
Padilla pointed this out at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, where he presides as chairman.
Reminding, “We are now living in 2022,” he aired suggestions it may be time to “consider some adjustments.”
“Nasa 2022 na tayo. Kailangan lamang siguro sa panahon ngayon ay mag-adjust tayo kung ano ang nangyayari, una sa paligid natin at kung ano ang nangyayari sa mundo. Dapat nandoon na po tayo. Hindi po tayo dapat sarado. (We are in 2022. We have to adjust to the times and our surroundings. We cannot afford to remain close-minded),” said Padilla.
Speaking further in Tagalog, Padilla added: “Kailangan bukas tayo dahil ang mundo ay bukas na bukas na, at ang lahat ay gumagamit na ng Internet. Ang lahat pwede nang magnegosyo sa pamamagitan ng isang text o paggamit ng computer.” (We must remain open-minded because our world is changing. Everyone is now using the internet and anyone can run a business using computers,” he added.)
Padilla pointed out that while he is not singling out any particular president or Constitution, “history has shown that Philippine Constitutions have undergone changes through time.”
The senator asserted he never specifically pinned the blame on any of the previous Presidents of the country. “Kailan man po wala kaming sinabi na kasalanan ng isang pangulong dumaan kung ano man po ang nangyayari na kahirapan sa Pilipinas. Wala po kaming sinasabing ganoon. Ang malinaw po naming pinaparating po sa inyo na sa mga dumaan na panahon, natural lamang po na nagbabago ang Constitution.” (I never blamed any particular leader or Constitution for the hardships we are facing. But what is clear is that change is a natural occurrence as time goes by, even for the Constitution),” he added.
The lawmaker likewise noted the points raised by resource person, Professor Anthony Amunategui Abad, that the Constitution “adjusts to the needs of the times. He added that even in the United States, Padilla recalled its Constitution has undergone amendments, such that it is now quite different from the original US Constitution dating back to 1776.
At the same time, Padilla reassured that the Senate Committee will be “fair and balanced” in its hearings, and that everyone will have a voice.
Meanwhile, Prof. Abad lauded Padilla “for his courage in holding such hearings, adding “the next generation of Filipinos stands to benefit from them.”
“For the record I’d like you to know I think this is an act of courage on your part, it is both patriotic and heroic,” said Abad. “So far from what I’ve seen in our long history of the legislature, what you’re doing now is historic,” Abad added, “And sana kung magkatotoo nga (If the changes will take place), you will have the thanks of many unborn Filipinos as the next generation ang makikinabang sa pag-amend natin sa Constitution (The next generation of Filipinos will benefit from all this),” Abad added. -30-