PRESIDENT Duterte has mentioned time and again that he wants the Constitution changed. But he has flip-flopped on how he wants it done.
A year ago, he favored Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) over Constitutional Assembly (Con-Ass) to revise the Constitution.
His reasons for the change of heart? A softening toward members of Congress whom he says won’t give up power easily, and budgetary concerns.
FLIP-FLOP: The infographic below shows how the president and the House Speaker speaking for the president have moved from championing Con-Con to embracing Con-Ass.
BACKGROUND: According to Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution, there are three ways to amend the Constitution.
First is through a Constitutional Assembly, which requires a three-fourths vote of all the members of Congress. The whole Congress, convened as a body, will comprise a Constitutional Assembly.
Second is through a Constitutional Convention, which can be called for by two-thirds vote of all the members of the Congress. A plebiscite may also be held to determine whether the electorate wants a Con-Con.
The 1987 Constitution is not clear on the composition of the Con-Con, but in the 1971 Constitutional Convention Act, an election of delegates may be called.
Third, is the people’s initiative, but unlike the first two, this is only applicable to minor revisions of the Constitution.
The amendment or revision is also required to be ratified by a majority vote in a referendum, which Alvarez aims to happen by 2019 in time for the midterm elections.
Duterte and Alvarez’ party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), is now a supermajority in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the party’s chairman, Sen. Koko Pimentel, is also the Senate President.
Sources:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/691847/duterte-change-in-form-of-govt-possible-only-through-con-con
Pantaleon Alvarez meets Inquirer Multimedia (Watch 21:05 – 21:43) https://youtu.be/egfPjoOuAVY
Presidential Communications Operations Office (Watch 20:05-20:38) https://youtu.be/Ragk73XbByg
17th Congress First Regular Session (Watch 3:27:56 – 3:28:30) https://youtu.be/fRZ1UOSa-TE
Congress to form Constitutional Assembly for Charter Change (Watch video by Inquirer.net from 0:34-1:26) https://youtu.be/k1mbW0_8hxU
Courtesy Call of PPCRV delegates in Malacañang (Watch from 29:35-31:02) https://youtu.be/wgB4S9_qOjU
http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/
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