HomeNewsManila bishop warns against renewed push for Charter change in Congress

Manila bishop warns against renewed push for Charter change in Congress

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has instructed the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments to open discussions on the Constitution

At least three Catholic bishops warned against the renewed interest among members of the Philippine legislature to press for a change to the country’s Constitution.

“They are using all kinds of reasons to push for [Charter change], and now the coronavirus,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The prelate noted that legislators have used “economic reasons” and “reforms” in the party-list law as reason for the introduction of amendments to the Constitution.




“This is very suspect,” said Bishop Pabillo.

“At this time, to push for [a change on the Constitution] is to extend terms (of office) or avoid election or avoid accountability of misgovernance,” he said.

Bishop Arturo Bastes, retired prelate of Sorsogon, said there is no need for a change “just because of the pandemic, which has no real effect on our present Constitution.”

“This change for the restrictive economic provision is just a pretext for more undesirable changes,” he said.

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He said any change in the Constitution will only benefit President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.

“It will open a Pandora’s box for more radical changes just to favor Duterte and his cohorts,” said Bishop Bastes.

Retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani also expressed about the motive of the politicians to amend the Constitution. “Tell that to the Marines,” said the prelate.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco announced on Sunday, January 10, that he already instructed the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments to open discussions on the Constitution.

He said the House wants to amend the Constitution to address the coronavirus pandemic.

He defended the renewed push for Charter change to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

“Foreign investment plays a crucial role in the Philippine economy by supporting domestic jobs and the creation of physical and knowledge capital across a range of industries, he said.

“The need to attract foreign capital is critical to support our economy’s recovery from COVID-19,” added the House Speaker.

The House committee on constitutional amendments is set to reopen its Charter change hearings on Wednesday, January 13.

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