HERE’S HOW THE PROCESS OF AMENDING THE 1987 CONSTITUTION IS SHAPING UP.

Congress will call the shots.

■ A CONSTITUTENT ASSEMBLY

it will be, with House and Senate leaders agreeing that each house will focus on adopting specific amendments to the 1987 Constitution and put off a decision on how the voting will be done. ■ CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE,

whose 19 members have been named by President Duterte, won't work in tandem with Congress. Created under an executive order dated Dec. 7, 2016, the ConCom is tasked to review the 1987 Constitution. The ConCom's output is merely recommendatory, not like the Constitutional Commission of 1986 whose work was adopted as the 1987 Constitution. ■ WHAT MAY HELP KEEP CONGRESS WALK THE 'RIGHT PATH' -- -- The minority in Congress. critics and pressure groups, including the religious sector, the NGOs and militant forces; in sum, public opinion that will question the proposals and not just blindly accept them; -- A healthy public debate that will draw authentic public sentiment on the proposals, not fabricated and circulated by propagandists.

The 'right path' is that taken by a legislative body that won't use its authority and power to craft provisions that benefit their personal and political interest. ■ EARLIEST TIME FOR PLEBISCITE

may be in May 2019, along with mid-term elections. Obviously, it can't be held with the barangay and SK elections this May.