SEN. Robin Padilla yesterday assured the public that the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution will be limited to restrictive economic provisions and will not touch political provisions.
Padilla issued the statement after Resolution of Both Houses No. 3, which he filed last week, was shot down by his colleagues in the Senate as restrictive economic provisions in the Charter have been addressed through the passage of measures in the last Congress.
Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said his colleagues should “consider the resolution.”
“I ask them to consider the resolution and rest assured that it contains nothing about political provisions, including the extension of terms or the changing of the form of government,” Padilla said.
He said while the restrictive economic provisions have been addressed through the passage and approval of the Public Service Act, Retail Trade Liberation Act, and Foreign Investments Act, “it cannot be denied that foreign investors still think twice about investing in the Philippines due to the Constitution’s current provisions.”
“Also, we cannot discount the questions raised by some sectors about the constitutionality of the Public Services Act,” he added.
Padilla said that the Constitution “is the highest law of the land” and as such it cannot be amended through regular legislation like in the past Congresses, saying changes in the Charter can be achieved only through a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly, or people’s initiative.
Of the three, he said, the constituent assembly “is the most practical and economical.”
“I made it clear that the Senate and the House of Representatives will vote separately so there will be no joint assembly, joint session or joint voting where the voice of the 24 senators will be drowned by those of almost 300 members of the House,” he said.
Senators said there is no immediate need to introduce amendments to the Constitution since its restrictive economic provisions have been addressed.
Sen. Grace Poe said the push for amendments to the Constitution could include term extensions.
Poe added if a constituent assembly will be convened, all concerned parties, including the country’s economic managers, will have their hands full, leaving important issues such as food security, inflation, and joblessness among other without solutions.
