June Duterte
I noticed that every Philippine administration will almost always include in its agenda of government the revision and/or amendment of the organic law of the land.
This is natural for a sitting president to look far beyond the single six-year term of office or mandate granted to him by the sovereigns who chose and dutifully elected him into office.
This is laudable indeed if truly the real, honest intention of the Palace occupant is to see to it that he will leave behind a nation in a much better shape or condition than when he found it, leaving behind a lasting legacy of profound impact on his people by overhauling the old superstructures of the status quo barnacled by so many numerous defects.
Noteworthy if the genuine aim is to move the nation forward by unshackling itself of decades-old constitutional infirmities especially in the area of foreign ownership of certain key national industries vital in the resurgence of a robust, vibrant economy.
But otra cosa if the raison d’etre for tinkering with the Constitution is merely to wrestle power via the obvious lifting of term limits.
If so, if the goal is to entrench themselves in power, it becomes then an entirely obnoxious proposal, an unconscionable fiat bereft of even the tiniest modicum of integrity and ethical being.
Even the very noble concept of reforming the Constitution in order to shift to the much-talked about Federal or Parliamentary form of government ceases its moral essence altogether when shanghaied by powerbrokers to suit their greedy ends.
This is the very reason why reports that Congress plans to prioritize charter change in 2024 raises many eyebrows with many viewing this move with much plain disdain.
To this well-meaning critics, this is plain and simple political aggrandizement all directed at the prized and aimed crosshairs: Remaining deeply ensconced in the seat of power by securing the throne through the seat of the Prime Ministership.
I guess the wisdom of those calling for a separate Constitutional Convention (ConCon) is well-founded here: Only a disinterested collegial body can ensure that it can well and faithfully deliberate, argue and render a moral verdict for and in the greater interest of the public and the assurance that the general welfare – not the vested interest of politicians – are given primordial consideration in any and all legislative deliberations on charter review. (June Duterte)