×

Warning

JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 5328

Drilon pushes con-con, says there is a need to re-examine Constitution CNN Philippines

Drilon pushes con-con, says there is a need to re-examine Constitution

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senate President Franklin Drilon filed a resolution pushing for constitution convention to revise the 1987 Constitution.

Drilon said there is a need to re-examine the 29-year-old Constitution and see “if it is still attuned or responsive to the demands of present-day realities."


Pursuant to Article XVII, Section 3 of the Constitution, Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, call a constitutional convention to propose amendments to, or a revision of, the Constitution.

Also read: Belmonte regrets not passing economic charter change

The House of Representatives and the Senate have to vote separately on the resolution.

Drilon said that Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 calls for a convention, whose members will be elected by January 2017. They are expected to propose amendments or revisions to the Constitution.

"The common good would be best served if the review of, and proposals to amend or revise, the Constitution would be made through and by a constitutional convention whose delegates are to be elected by the people for such purpose," said Drilon.

According to the outgoing Senate President, in order to maintain the non-partisan nature of the process, members of Congress at the time of the adoption of the resolution are not qualified to be elected as delegate to the Convention.

Drilon added candidates in the May 2016 elections are also prohibited from qualifying as a delegate to the Convention. "Neither shall any person who filed his or her certificate of candidacy in the election of May 9, 2016 shall be qualified as a candidate for election as Delegate to the Convention," the resolution states.

Delegates to the Convention will also be elected by administrative region based on the number of legislative districts in the region. They will have the same qualifications as those required of the members of the House of Representatives.

“The resolution also bans candidates to represent or allow them to be represented as being a candidate of any political party or any organization,” Drilon said.

He also said any person holding a public office or position, elective or appointive, including members of the Armed Forces and officers and employees of corporations or enterprises owned and or controlled by the government will be considered resigned upon filing of his or her certificate of candidacy.

The revision of the Constitution will pave the way for the shift to a parliamentary federal form of government.

Watch: What is Federalism?

Once Congress is done with holding national consultations and drafting proposals, the government will hold a plebiscite, which is targeted to take place during the 2019 midterm elections.

The Duterte administration is aiming to set up new regional states from 2019 to 2022, the last three years of Rodrigo Duterte’s term as president.

***

source: http://cnnphilippines.com

Read 2490 times Last modified on Thursday, 14 July 2016 15:33
Rate this item
(0 votes)