Cha-cha untimely due to economic crisis, 2010 polls - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The House public hearing and consultation on the issue of amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution drew mixed reactions from various invited political experts, with one of them saying there is no “pressing need" for such change.

GMA News' Mariz Umali reported over QTV-11's Balitanghali that among the resource persons who spoke at the hearing of the House committee on constitutional amendments were lawyer Neri Colminares, Social Sciences professor Roland Simbulan, and political scientist Jose Abueva.

The House committee gathered the political experts to determine if the 1987 Constitution needs to be changed, and how change should be done.

In his speech, Colminares said the government should first closely study and weigh in the benefits of changing the Charter, adding that such a revision would constitute a serious amount of financial expense for the government.

He said that changing the Charter would entail the passing of a plebiscite, which in the first place would require the government to spend a big amount.

The resource speaker added there is no “pressing need" as of this time to change the Constitution, describing it as “untimely." He said the government could not afford to spend some more on such a move, given the current global financial crisis plaguing national economies and the expenses that would be incurred in the upcoming May 2010 elections.

Simbulan seconded Colminares’ suggestion on deferring moves for a Charter change, saying it would only elicit “malicious" remarks from critics if the government would choose to carry out the change at this point when the administration is hounded by a number of controversies.

Simbulan also stressed that as opposed to previous suggestions, if ever Charter change is approved through Constitutional Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives should vote separately because Congress is bilateral in nature.

For his part, Abueva said there are several provisions in the current Constitution that need to be amended, and that change should be done through a Constitutional Convention.

He said the government should also decide who would compose the Constitutional Convention around the same time as the May 2010 national elections.

Earlier, committee chairman and La Union Rep. Victor Ortega had denied that his committee had previously received any resolution for a Charter change.

But in Tuesday’s public consultation, Colminares belied the La Union congressman’s claim and said House Resolution 550 authored by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas had been filed.

In his resolution, Mandanas was asking for a term of extension for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo until June 30, 2011 and a postponement of the May 2010 polls.

While subsequently admitting the receipt of such a resolution, Ortega clarified that he and the other committee members have yet to discuss the proposed measure.

As of this posting, the public consultation continues and is expected to go on for the rest of the day. gmanews.tv