Rappler compares bills for charter change in the House

CHEERS TO Rappler’s in-depth report that compared the different charter change bills that have been filed at the House of Representatives.

Dwight de Leon’s January 13 report provided crucial background and differentiated key aspects of the nine charter change bills submitted by eight solons to the 19th Congress since it opened in July 2022. Starting January 26, the House’s Panel on Constitutional Amendments is set to conduct a series of hearings to discuss the measures.

Graphs by Nico Villarete made it possible to view the logical presentation of the complex topic. The graphs summarized essential details, enabling readers to immediately understand which Representatives were pushing for what amendments and how— an important consideration in a Congress dominated by personalities and political dynasties.

De Leon noted that most of the lawmakers behind the proposals are in critically important positions, with most chairing their own committees:

• Aurelio Gonzales, Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Second District Representative; 
• Lorenz Defensor, Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Third District Representative; 
• Rufus Rodriguez, House Constitutional Amendments Chairperson and Cagayan Second District Representative;
• Benny Abante, House Human Rights Panel Chairperson and Manila Sixth District Representative; 
• Gus Tambunting, House Legislative Franchises Panel Chairperson and Parañaque Second District Representative;
• Lord Allan Velasco, House Energy Panel Chairperson and Marinduque Representative;
• Jorge Bustos, House Veteran Affairs Panel Chairperson and Patrol Partylist Representative; and
• LRay Villafuerte, Camarines Sur Second District Representative.

The report discussed the two methods proposed by the different lawmakers to undertake the charter amendments: through a constitutional convention or a constituent assembly. 

Bustos, Defensor, Gonzales, Tambunting, and Velasco favor a constituent assembly, which limits the power to amend the charter to Senators and Representatives of Congress, upon a vote of 75 percent of its membership. Abante, Rodriguez, and Villafuerte propose going the way of a constitutional convention. This entails the people’s election of delegates representing each legislative district who will then collectively craft proposed amendments. 

The distinction between the two is an important one, as the level of public participation in the process can reveal early on whether the amendments will serve public interest or only the politicians’ self-interests.  

Three lawmakers proposed longer term limits for public officials through re-election: five-year terms for both the President and Vice President but with re-election allowed once. Other elective officials (except at the barangay level) will also serve five-year terms and can serve up to two consecutive terms. De Leon observed that with these proposed changes, “a popular president could stay in Malacañang for 10 years.” 

The piece also emphasized that aside from the controversial term extension, the various bills also aimed to introduce other changes:

1. tandem voting for President and Vice President; 
2. authorizing more officials to succeed the President in case of death, resignation, incapacitation, or removal from office;
3. removing the President’s power to appoint Supreme Court justices; and
4. easing economic restrictions found in some provisions.  

De Leon concluded the report by recalling that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not include charter change as a priority measure in his State of the Nation Address. Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, has yet to express support for any of the bills. In the Senate, neophyte Senator Robinhood Padilla, an administration ally, chairs the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. There have been no updates on his bill seeking a review of the Constitution filed in 2022.

Media should give keeping track of charter change bills higher priority in its coverage of the House. Such tracking might reveal what is driving this discussion in Congress. Constitutional amendments can be overcomplicated by legalese and technicalities. Journalists should be prepared to make clear and accessible further developments with straightforward reporting. The public should be well-informed of any move to alter the Constitution which may result in the diminished state of citizens’ human rights.