Incoming senators urged to reject charter change
Think-tank Ibon Foundation has challenged incoming senators to prove their independence by rejecting proposals to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Following last week’s midterm elections, the 17th Congress will bow out next month and the 18th Congress — to be dominated by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte — will assume office on July 22.
The House of Representatives
last year approved Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 15 containing proposed changes to the Constitution, in particular a shift to the federal system of government endorsed by Duterte.
While RBH 15 is unlikely to be passed by the current Senate when the 17th Congress reconvenes from May 20 to June 7, charter change or Cha-cha is expected to be pursued by incoming legislators.
IBON noted that the Duterte government had organised an Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism and Constitutional Reforms, which “can easily restart or expedite deliberations under an administration-dominated 18th Congress.”
“An administration win can bring standing upper house support for Cha-cha to 11 comprised of incoming senators Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel 3rd, Bong Revilla, plus incumbent senators Vicente Sotto 3rd, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Manny Pacquiao,” it added.
Ibon warned that aside from establishing federalism and removing term limits for legislators, charter change would also remove protections for Filipinos by dropping “the nationalist provisions of the Constitution and liberalise the economy to foreign investors.”
It would also limit the government’s role in protecting the Philippine economy and allow foreign ownership of natural resources, educational institutions, mass media and advertising, public utilities, and strategic enterprises, the think tank claimed.
“Cha-cha would remove provisions on using the preferential use of Filipino labour and limiting professions to Filipinos. This will worsen the country’s jobs crisis,” it added.
Proposed provisions would also narrow the “government’s role in providing basic social services such as health development and affordable housing by adhering to the neoliberal policy of privatisation,” Ibon continued. It also warned against other proposals to open public utilities to full foreign ownership, such as proposed amendments to the Public Services Act and revisions to the Foreign Investments Negative List.