CEBU CITY — The usual exodus of politicians to a ruling party will not happen under the draft federalism Constitution, according to the spokesperson of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) on Friday afternoon.
“The phenomenon of massive party-switching now taking place at the House of Representatives will never happen under the draft federal constitution crafted by the Consultative Committee,” Ding Generoso said during the consultation on the draft federal constitution at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel here.
Generoso said the draft contains a strong provision that virtually makes it impossible for politicians to jump from one party to another without facing sanctions.
He said Section 7 of Article 5 on Suffrage and Political Parties in the ConCom draft strongly prohibits elected officials from changing parties during their term of office.
“If the ConCom proposals had been in place, more than half of the present members of the House who have been moving from one party to another would lose their seats and would be barred from running in the next elections,” Generoso said.
Political parties accommodating turncoats and “butterflies” will likewise face cancellation of their registration with the Commission on Elections, he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Hilario Davide III said he is glad that ConCom members brought their information drive to Cebu as local officials are very eager to know the contents of the federal constitution.
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Antonio Gallardo and Presidential Adviser on Legal Affairs Adelino Sitoy also attended ConCom consultation jointly organized by the Cebu Provincial Government and the PLLO.
The ConCom consultation will resume Saturday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center with the public school teachers. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)