MANILA – The body President Rodrigo Duterte formed to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution approved the final draft of its proposed Federal Charter on Tuesday.
The 22-member Consultative Committee (ConCom) and its staff signed the document without opposition. Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. moved for the approval.
The ConCom will submit the proposal to Duterte on or before July 9 in time for the latter’s third State of the Nation Address on July 23.
One of the key points of the proposal is the “distribution” of state powers traditionally concentrated in the central government, said Concom spokesman Ding Generoso.
“Our proposal is a Federal Constitution that envisions a permanent and indissoluble nation with guarantees against separation or secession,” Generoso told a news conference.
Generoso added that they also proposed reforms in the political system through prohibitions on political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity and party-switching.
The proposal also includes a revision of the composition of the House of Representatives and the institution of the people’s power to enact or repeal laws, among others.
The draft Charter also strengthened the Bill of Rights through the inclusion of socioeconomic and environmental and ecological rights, and revamps the existing constitutional commissions on audit, civil service and elections, the Office of the Ombudsman, and adds the Commission on Human Rights.
After the committee presents it to the President, the proposal will be turned over to Congress, which may either affirm or reject it./PN
