Can we trust this present congress with our Constitution?
The Constitution is the Basic Law of the land. All the other subsequent laws to
be passed by congress for many years to come will be based on the Constitution.
Is this present congress up to the task of coming up with a New Constitution?
The answer is a BIG NO!
First of all this congress is not a representative of the
people. It is a misnomer to continue to call it as the House of Representatives
because the majority of the persons there belong to political dynasties and
they got elected not because they represent the will of the people but because
of political machinations. Furthermore, the way congress as a whole behaves during
the past year show that they not only represent their own families and
political ambitions but they mostly kowtow to the wishes of Duterte. First of
all, they jumped to the ship of PDP-Laban when Duterte became president. Then
they prove to be a rubber stamp of what Duterte and his minions want. This is
clearly shown in the bills they passed, like the death penalty, in the
impeachment processes they pursue, first against the Comelec chairman and now
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Then also the extension of the Martial
Law. One does not see any substantial debate in the floor. Clearly, the good of
the people is not within their purpose.
The arguments presented for the change of the Constitution
are very flimsy. They just mouth slogans, like federalism, which they do not
even examine deeply enough. It is not even known if they have consulted their
own constituents on the matter. Being the Basic Law the change in the Constitution
deserves more enlightened discussions among the people. It is not something to
be railroaded. Their agenda is to submit the “New Constitution” to the people
in the May 2018 barangay elections. Will the people vote intelligently if even
up to now we do not know what the relevant issues are that would warrant the
change?
And how can intelligent discussions be had when this
leadership of the present congress, and of the present government as such, are
not mature enough to accept and respect any opposition? There is no democracy
if there is no strong opposition because the truth and the good of the people
can only be ferreted out by mature discussions and deliberations? But if any
opposition is tagged as destabilizers, how can any mature deliberations be
done? If the opposition is being punished for not towing the line, like not giving
them any budget or “project” at all, how can one voice out his mind, especially
if it is against the official line?
The con-ass (constitutional assembly) is not the correct
mode for changing the constitution at the moment even if it be claimed to be
legal. This present Congress cannot be trusted with this important task. Besides,
there is no need to hurry up the process. There is no deadline to meet, except
the deadline set by interested parties for the purpose of controlling the
people. Even expense is not a reason. Even if the Constitutional Convention
(con-con) mode be more expensive, it is worth it that the people choose the right
people just for the sole purpose of studying and changing the Constitutions, if
there really is such a need. This present congress is not up to this task! In fact, they are rushing this up again because they are just towing the line of a
few whose main interests are not those of the people!
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