Robin

Padilla vows thorough, fair review of 1987 Constitution

September 4, 2022 PS Jun M. Sarmiento 385 views

Senator Robinhood C. Padilla said the long overdue 1987 Constitution should need immediate attention by all sectors as he maintained that revisions of Constitution must be given serious thought and consideration.

In a press conference Friday, Padilla assured that the review for possible amendments of the 1987 Constitution by his Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes will be thorough and fair and all sectors will be given their chance to air their views and comments.

“Dadalhin po namin ang konsultasyon sa ibat ibang sektor sa ibat ibang lugar upang masiguro na maririnig po natin ang boses ng kapwa Pilipino sa ilalim ng gagawin natin revisions. Dapat po akma na sa panahon ang ating saligang batas lalo pa at dito nakasalalay ang galaw ng ating ekonomiya at pang-araw araw na takbo ng pamumuhay,” Padilla explained.

Saying that the Constitution should evolve and be in step with the times, he stressed that all voices pros and cons will be heard, giving importance to the opinions and beliefs of the framers of the 1987 Constitution as he further said that both sides of the coin will have their chance to air their views.

“Lahat po dapat pakinggan natin. Pro at against ay dapat marinig dahil involve dito ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino at gayundin ng ating mga anak,” Padilla said.

He further said the country has gone through several Constitutions from the Malolos Constitution, the Commonwealth Constitution, the Japanese Occupation Constitution, the 1946 Independence Constitution, the 1973 Marcos Constitution, 1987 Cory People Power Constitution.

“Kung titingnan mo history natin nakailang Constitution tayo. Mula Malolos nag-e-evolve siya. Di siya pwede ma-stuck. Kaya itong pag-hearing na ito matagal pa ito. Marami pa. sabi ko nga dadalhin ko ito sa malalayong lugar. Kasi sa ngayon ang dinidinig natin ang gumawa ng 1987 Constitution kasi ayaw ko maging unfair. Ayokong pagdudahan ako,” Padilla said, adding: “Yun bang kanilang Constitution ay outdated na ba o kailangan baguhin? At siyempre kumukuha tayo ng opinion ng mga pro, at higit sa lahat meron tayong opinion ng OFW. Kasi tandaan mo, mga kababayan, ang una nating mga ilustrado, OFW. Importante ang kanilang opinion,” Padilla said.

While at the same time, Padilla said that he would not want to prolong the process, otherwise he will be accused that this is just being done to extend the term of the President and other elected officials. He would want to have the committee report and proposed legislation as early as possible to avoid any innuendos that “term extension” is the end goal — if possible, to coincide with the barangay elections which may be postponed to May of 2023.

“Ayoko ito patagalin… Huwag kasi pagbibintangan tayo sasabihin nila term extension daw ito. Alam mo dito sa bayan natin pag pinagusapan ang Charter change lagi sa isip term extension. Pag tumagal tayo ng tumagal sasabihin na naman nila term extension. Hindi po. Ayaw natin ito tagalin. Siguro tatapusin lang itong hearing sa budget kasi mag hearing ng budget walang tulugan ito.

Tapos lalabas kami, pupunta kami sa probinsiya. Pinigil ako ng legis ko, gusto ko mag-file ng constituent assembly. Pinipigil lang nila ako. Isang beses parang nagsisigawan kami doon sa opisina. Di pwede, di pwede! Bahala kayo! Wala, susunod tayo sa legislative natin. Pero kung ako masusunod dapat ngayon na. Gusto ko nga isabay sa barangay elections kaya lang nagulat ako parang ano naman yata ma-postpone. Kaya di ko pa alam, wala pang position doon,” Padilla said.

He said definitely he will have consultation hearings in the provinces, giving emphasis to the Cordillera Autonomous Region, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Cebu, and Davao who were the first to express their call for decentralization and devolution of power which was then perceived to be concentrated in so-called “Imperial Manila.”

“Una gusto ko dalhin sa mga probinsya. Kasi sa Constitution 2 ang pwedeng bigyan ng autonomy, ang CAR and BARMM. Ang BARMM successful sa autonomy. Ang CAR medyo … pa sila kaya gusto namin doon dalhin. Tapos sa Cebu, kasi sa Cebu, masyadong mainit ang ulo ni Governor Gwen dahil lagi siyang pinakikialaman sa kanyang desisyon. Tapos noon punta kami Davao, CDO, GenSan. Yan ang lugar na handa na sila na kung tayo patungo sa awtonomiya. Kasi sinasabi ng lahat baka daw mabigla sa federal. Di naman ganyan ang gusto natin. Walang biglaan. Lahat na biglaan masakit yan. Lahat yan dapat evolving,” he said, adding that it will be more likely after the budget hearings. Consultations will be with the local governments, governors, mayors, brgy captains.

According to Padilla even the participation of different sectors including the indigenous people will be vital in drafting the new constitution because of their present situation and all the other factors affecting their lives.

Padilla remains optimistic that Chacha will push through under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“Nag-Parliament na tayo, mag-unicameral na tayo. At sa panahon ni President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. anong pumipigil sa admin na ito na bumalik tayo sa unicameral, yan ang iniwan ng ama?

Baka sakali ipagpatuloy ng ating mahal na PFEM,” he said.

adding: “Totoo naman po, 34 years na ang Constitution na ito. Di ko alam anong pumipigil sa atin. 1935 nagkaroon tayo, pinalitan yan ng 1973, ang 1973 pinalitan ng 1987. Bakit parang, ewan ko, … natin ang 1987.