I am open with the proposal for our present Constitution to be amended but for the purposes of strengthening our democracy and governance.
The Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution has been created by President Rodrigo Duterte to study the possible amendments that can be applied to the fundamental law of the land. The committee is composed of top-notch constitutional experts and being chaired by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno.
As of today, the consultative committee has been suggesting some changes in the Constitution like: creating a federal form of government, instituting an anti-political dynasty clause up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to elected officials, banning of the elected official to change a political party (turncoatism) during the assumption of his office, and many others. In all of these mentioned, only the federal form of government is the one that I am not in favor.
It would be very democratic if the Constitution will create a "semi-presidential" form of government as it would allow a cohabitation between the head of state and head of government. Having two powerful persons with opposing views may check each other thus enabling the government to be less corrupt and crook.
Turncoatism has been one of the new measure of the consultative committee which originated from former Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago. Upon assumption of an office, the official is prohibited to move from one party to another thus the practice of "balimbing" in politics will not prosper anymore.
The anti-political dynasty law is one that the 1987 Constitution requires to prevent electing government officials under one single clan or family but after three decades, the Congress which is composed of political families has never passed any anti-political dynasty bill. That's why the consultative committee inserted the anti-political dynasty clause in their recommendations to get rid of political families to be elected in government offices thus giving more opportunities to some other public servants to be elected into power. In their proposal, an elected official should not have a relative elected for one (1) national position and one (1) local position. They are still working on if Senators, District and Party-list Representatives will be classified as national positions.
The consultative committee has been doing so far to ensure that our fundamental law will be amended in a way that the Filipino people deserves to. I hope that these recommendations will be adopted so as to strengthen our democratic government and to build a nation that protects and safeguards our rights as a citizen of the Philippines.
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