PRESIDENT RECEIVES FINAL DRAFT OF FEDERAL CHARTER
Former chief justice Reynato Puno, head of the Con-Com, says the federal charter is pro-poor, ‘strong enough’ to hold together the regions that are ‘socially, politically, and economically sustainable’
The Consultative Committee (Con-Com) tasked to amend the 1987 Constitution submitted Monday, July 9, the final draft of the proposed federal charter to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte received the draft charter during the handover rites held in Malacañan Palace on Monday afternoon.
Setting up a federal state was among Duterte’s campaign promises in a bid to end the supposed inequality among the regions.
The federal constitution proposed by the Con-Com was designed to “build a permanent and indissoluble nation.”
Former chief justice Reynato Puno, head of the Con-Com, said the “pro-poor” federal government being proposed was “strong enough” to hold together the various federated regions that are “socially, politically, and economically sustainable.”
“In drafting this proposed Constitution, we were guided by one directive which you gave: Do what is best for the people,” Puno said in a keynote speech.
“And we assure you that the consultative committee did its work with a complete independence and unbiased by any partisan politics or by any elite interest,” he added.
The draft federal constitution will establish 18 federated regions, including the Bangsamoro and the federation region of the Cordillera, that will be headed by a regional legislature, a regional executive, and a regional judiciary.
The proposed federal charter disallowed political dynasties up to the second degree; succession and holding of more than one position; and party switching.
“The draft constitution democratized our electoral process by prohibiting political dynasties that have long monopolized our elections,” Puno said.
“At the same time, the draft constitution transformed political parties as mechanisms of citizen representation and democratic government. Under this draft constitution, political turncoatism is prohibited. Hence, political butterflies cannot flatter anymore from one political party to another political party,” he added.
Under the proposed federal state, the federal government and federal regions would govern the people “less in competition but more in cooperation,” Puno stressed.
The Con-Com chair also said that the draft federal charter would strengthen the institutions of government to fight graft and corruption.
“The draft Constitution transformed the Ombudsman to a commission type of office in order to investigate and prosecute more effectively violations of our anti-graft law.”
Duterte is expected to turn over the draft federal charter to Congress on July 23, during his State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Duterte’s critics have raised the possibility that the proposed federal set-up would allow him to hold office beyond his six-year term that will end in 2022.
To end such speculations, the President would make a “special request” to Congress to insert a provision in the proposed federal system that would prevent him from seeking reelection under the new charter, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said.