"What this Country needs is not a change OF men but a change IN men" March 1980

Sunday, January 08, 2006

PIRMA like CHA CHA is Suspect

EASTERN SAMAR Governor Ben Evardone's plan to mount a "people's initiative" and gather five million signatures in support of Charter change has run into a brick wall in the Senate.

Suspect plan

Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, said Evardone's plan "was suspect" just as the ConCom's independence was put into question because it was composed of governors and mayors.

The ConCom was created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to recommend changes to the 1987 Constitution. It was composed of present and former local government officials, jurists, educators, newspaper columnists and others.

"Since it [proposal] comes from a governor [Evardone], it will surely show that this administration is intent on changing the Constitution to benefit a powerful few," Gordon said in an interview.

Under study

Gordon's committee was still studying the House resolution seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly that would propose amendments to the Constitution and was still awaiting the ConCom's recommendation.

Before it starts hearings, the senator has drawn up a list of questions for the resource persons: "Are the people in favor of changing the Constitution? Which is the best mode? Which is less costly?"

As far as he was concerned, Gordon said instituting reforms in the country's flawed electoral system, such as modernizing the polls, strengthening the party system by banning party-switching and ensuring voters' access to candidates through the media, was more important than amending the Constitution.

5-M signatures drive opposed by senators
By TJ Burgonio w/ Christine Avendano
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 9 Jan 2005
http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=62357

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