MANILA, Philippines – The House committee on constitutional amendments, with the help of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, is in the process of revisiting and “finalizing specific amendments” to the 1987 Constitution, an administration lawmaker said Monday. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Charter change (Cha-cha) advocates are flexing muscles to create a bandwagon for constitutional change.
“I think the Committee is finalizing specific amendments,” he told the Manila Bulletin.
He said that Puno, who earlier manifested his all-out support for Cha-cha to overhaul the country’s political landscape, has been helping specify provisions in the Constitution that need to be amended.
“Chief Justice Puno is enthusiastic about it. He is preparing it (the amendments). He is also consulting with other concerned sectors,” Evardone, chairman of the House Committee on Public Information, said.
He said the committee, led by Misamis Occidental Rep. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos, has sought Puno’s assistance in identifying the provisions that should be overhauled.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, who earlier expressed preference for a Constituent assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the Charter, said the committee on constitutional amendments was not barred from doing its work.
Last Jan. 23, Evardone filed House Resolution 846 urging Congress to immediately call for a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution.
He also called for the creation of a congressional consultative commission to ensure the peoples’ awareness and participation in the debate on constitutional issues.
The filing of the resolution also signaled the start of the Cha-cha hearing last week.
Under Evardone’s resolution, the election of Con-con delegates will be held on February 2, 2012 with the Commission on Elections promulgating the rules and regulations for the conduct of such election.
Charisa Luci, Manila Bulletin
