DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte wants the review of the 1987 Constitution by the newly-formed Consultative Committee done this year or just enough time for Congress to act on it. “I want it done this year,” he said in a press conference at Davao International Airport early Saturday morning upon his arrival from a three-day official visit to India to attend the ASEAN-India Special Commemorative Summit meetings.
The President stressed he does not want to hang it like a cellular mobile phone gets hanged.
“I do not want it. It’s either we do it, if there’s a cost, so be it. It may result in violence, we avoid it,” Duterte stressed.
The President wants the Constitution reviewed as Congress moves to change it this year to pave way for a shift to a federal form of government.
Before leaving for India, Duterte appointed 19 of the 25 members of the Consultative Committee which will be chaired by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. The members of the consultative body are former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Victor De La Serna, Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, Virgilio Castillo Bautista, Rodolfo Dia Robles, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Julio Cabral Teehankee, Bienvenido Reyes, Eddie Mapag Alih, Edmund Soriano Tayao, Ali Pangalian Balindong, Laurence Wacnang, Roan Libarios, Reuben Rabe Canoy, Arthur Aguilar, Susan Ubalde-Ordinario, Antonio Binas Arellano and Randolp Climaco Parcasio.
Duterte created the body on Dec. 7, 2016, through Executive Order No. 10, to study, conduct consultations, and review the provisions of the 1987 Constitution, including but not limited to the provisions on the structure and powers of the government, local governance, and economic policies.
The appointment of the members of the Consultative body came at a time when Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Sr. have agreed to set aside differences on the process to amend the Constitution.
Pimentel announced he, Alvarez, Sotto, and Farinas agreed to prioritize a comprehensive, consultative review of the 1987 Constitution and the finalization of proposed constitutional amendments or revisions.
Pimental underscored the need to determine “exact” amendments or revisions would benefit the people.
The Senate president stressed that the disagreements should not “distract” both chambers from making revisions to the charter that would help improve people’s lives. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
