‘No risk of political reform in economic Cha-cha’

MANILA, Philippines — Apprehensions over possible insertion of political reforms like lifting of term limits for elected officials are misplaced since the ongoing economic Charter change in Congress covers only economic provisions, according to former Supreme Court justice Adolfo Azcuna.

“Political matters are not covered because they are not in the subject matter stated in the title,” Azcuna told lawmakers during the hearing of the House committee of the whole, noting that the proposed amendments only covered Articles 12 (public utilities), 14 (education) and 16 (advertising) of the Charter.

“So that is a safeguard. So as long as it is only RBH-6 of the Senate and RBH-7 of the House are the ones proposed and approved, then it will only be on economic provisions and even then, only Articles 12, 14 and 16,” explained Azcuna, who is also among the framers of the 1987 Constitution.

The former magistrate said inserting political provisions in the economic Charter change cannot be done, since only pending proposals limit the scope of Charter amendments.

“My answer is that it is limited by the very form of the proposed resolution, which is in the form of a joint resolution of both Houses, and it is subjected to the cardinal rule of one subject matter that must be expressed in the title,” he clarified.

Former national security adviser Clarita Carlos has expressed support for the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution, noting that a Constitution should be “a living document that should reflect the political and economic conditions of our times.”

Carlos noted if the basic law fails to adapt in the constantly changing environment of a borderless world, it should be changed.

“Let us build bridges, not walls, to the rest of the world,” Carlos said during the fourth hearing of the House of Representatives on Resolution of Both Houses No. 7.

She also urged those opposing the opening up of education to foreign investors to think about its potential outcome, which is “effective learning” and not ownership issues.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with officials and members of the House super majority coalition, has vowed to “embrace and adopt in toto” whatever the