Charter change should benefit people, says Go
ILOILO City – Changes to be made in revising the 1987 Philippine Constitution should benefit the people, said Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
In an interview during the Dinagyang Festival tribes competition at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on Sunday, Jan. 28, Go voiced his opposition to the ongoing controversial move to amend the constitution via people’s initiative.
“With the people’ s initiative, the government will lose the‘ checks and balances ’. That is supposed to be the reason why we have Upper and Lower Chamber for the government legislators to have checks and balances,” Go told reporters.
The Senate manifesto emphasizes the risks associated with the current people’s initiative proposal that the Senate and the House of Representatives will vote jointly rather.
The senator also emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Constitution and the Senate as an institution, to ensure there are“checks and balances” in government.
He added that any proposed amendment to the Constitution must focus on the welfare of ordinary Filipino citizens and not for the political gain of anyone.
“This is democracy. We should have a check and balance in the government. Voting jointly, the Senate will be rendered useless. Any revision to the Constitution should redound to the benefit of the people,” said Go.
The Senate, as a constitutional body, helps protect the Constitution, the will, and the interest of the people. We shall uphold the interest of every Filipino people.
Voting jointly with the House of Representatives would render the senators useless since the senators are outnumbered by considering t he voting numbers of congressmen in the Lower Chamber.
Sen. Imee Marcos believes House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind the unpopular move to amend the Constitution through the people’s initiative.
Marcos claimed on Friday, J an. 26, that her cousin Romualdez is “definitely” behind the controversial people’s initiative to rewrite the Constitution.
Go also emphasized the critical yet equal roles of the Lower House and the Upper House which is the Senate in the legislative process of the Philippines.
“Kaya nga po tayo may Lower House, kaya nga po mayroon tayong Senado para kapag ipinasa ang batas, o ‘yung bill sa Lower House ay may magtse- check rin po sa Senado,” he stated.
Go also said that such a change would undermine the Senate’s role and ability to represent the Filipino people. He further stressed the nationwide mandate that senators carry./ PN