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    Charter Change - For Whose Benefit

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    mansueto mark anthony
    The document discusses the recent push for charter change in the Philippines and questions whose interests it truly serves. It notes that while supporters claim charter change is needed to help the economy, many of the proposed economic reforms do not require constitutional amendments. The real goal may be changing term limits or the government system to benefit political dynasties like the Marcos-Romualdez family. Charter change could allow them to perpetuate their power rather than solving the country's real problems. The 1987 constitution aims to prevent another Marcos-style authoritarian rule, so the people and church should oppose this self-serving move.

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    Charter Change - For Whose Benefit

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    mansueto mark anthony
    13 views2 pages
    The document discusses the recent push for charter change in the Philippines and questions whose interests it truly serves. It notes that while supporters claim charter change is needed to help the economy, many of the proposed economic reforms do not require constitutional amendments. The real goal may be changing term limits or the government system to benefit political dynasties like the Marcos-Romualdez family. Charter change could allow them to perpetuate their power rather than solving the country's real problems. The 1987 constitution aims to prevent another Marcos-style authoritarian rule, so the people and church should oppose this self-serving move.

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    Charter change- For whose benefit

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    The document discusses the recent push for charter change in the Philippines and questions whose interests it truly serves. It notes that while supporters claim charter change is needed to help the economy, many of the proposed economic reforms do not require constitutional amendments. The real goal may be changing term limits or the government system to benefit political dynasties like the Marcos-Romualdez family. Charter change could allow them to perpetuate their power rather than solving the country's real problems. The 1987 constitution aims to prevent another Marcos-style authoritarian rule, so the people and church should oppose this self-serving move.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    13 views2 pages

    Charter Change - For Whose Benefit

    Uploaded by

    mansueto mark anthony
    The document discusses the recent push for charter change in the Philippines and questions whose interests it truly serves. It notes that while supporters claim charter change is needed to help the economy, many of the proposed economic reforms do not require constitutional amendments. The real goal may be changing term limits or the government system to benefit political dynasties like the Marcos-Romualdez family. Charter change could allow them to perpetuate their power rather than solving the country's real problems. The 1987 constitution aims to prevent another Marcos-style authoritarian rule, so the people and church should oppose this self-serving move.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    https://cbcpnews.

    net/cbcpnews/charter-change-for-whose-benefit/

    Charter change: For whose benefit?

    February 3, 2024
    There is once again a push to change or amend the Philippine Constitution. The
    opening salvo is the signature campaign for a people’s initiative to amend the
    Constitution that will enable the House of Representative and Senate to revise or
    amend the Constitution as a constituent assembly voting as one rather than
    separately. This move which appears to have been initiated by Speaker Martin
    Romualdez is being carried by the House of Representatives and local government
    officials all over the country using public funds and giving financial aid to those
    who sign the petition. This is not really a people’s initiative. At the urging of
    President Bongbong Marcos, Senate President Miguel Zubiri has agreed to study
    the economic provisions of the existing Constitution and consider the possibility of
    charter change. Apparently, changing the Constitution is part of the agenda of the
    Marcos administration.

    Why is the Marcos administration rushing to change the Constitution? Is it really


    necessary? Who will benefit from charter change? The recent ads that appeared on
    TV to promote the charter change give the impression that the Constitution that
    was crafted after EDSA People Power is the source of the lack of economic, social,
    educational and political progress in the country. This is evident in the use of the
    term “EDSA-pwera” — a play on the word “etcha-pwera”. It asserts that the
    Constitution has not benefited the ordinary people. Thus, there is a need for charter
    change.

    The primary reason that has been given for changing the Constitution is to have
    new economic provisions favorable and beneficial for business— especially
    foreign investors and their local partners. This means eradicating totally nationalist
    economic provisions. However, many senators insist that that even without
    changing the Constitution, congress under the previous administration was able to
    pass laws that made it easier for foreign investors to operate (e.g. one hundred
    percent ownership of manufacturing plants, long-term land lease, oil exploration in
    partnership with government, etc.). What has not been changed is the exclusive
    ownership of land by Filipinos. Foreign companies who have pledged billions of
    dollars in investment have not demanded changes in the Constitution. Nor is
    charter change included in the government’s long/medium term economic plan. If
    it is not necessary for economic reason, what really is the ulterior motive for the
    Marcos-Romualdez urgent move for charter change? We can only suspect that it is
    political. Beyond the economic provision, the goal could be changing the form of
    government (parliamentary or federal). This could also include changing the term
    limits. If this is true, then this will benefit the Marcos-Romualdez political dynasty.
    This could be a means for perpetuating themselves in power. Is this the reason why
    Duterte who was in favor of charter change while he was president is now opposed
    to it because it can affect VP Sara Duterte’s presidential ambition? A change to
    parliamentary form of government will mean doing away with the senate. This
    could explain why most senators are lukewarm to the move for charter change.

    The 1987 Constitution is the child of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Besides
    guaranteeing the basic rights and rule of law, the Constitution aims to prevent a
    repeat of the Marcos perpetual authoritarian rule. This explains the term limit for
    the president. The anti-dynasty provision is meant to do away with political
    dynasties – although congress has not yet come up with enabling laws to make it a
    reality. The nationalist economic provisions are meant to prevent foreign
    domination of the economy and allow the growth of Filipino business and spur
    national industrialization.

    We must, therefore, be wary of moves to change the Constitution designed to allow


    the perpetuation in power of political dynasties. A change to parliamentary form of
    government is not realistic in the absence or lack of genuine political parties. The
    Philippines faces a lot problems— economic, political, social, educational,
    environmental. Charter change is not a solution to these problems. It may even lead
    to a worsening of these problems. It will not benefit the Filipino people —
    especially the poor. It will only benefit the Marcos- Romualdez political dynasty.
    The Filipino people and the Church in particular must oppose this self-serving
    move.

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