16 hours ago
Ronnie Puno calls for Cha-cha via Con-con
"Can the clear urgency mandated by constitutional language now be indefinitely stalled under the guise of interpretive discretion? A single, ambiguous word can become the justification for legislative inaction, procedural manipulation, or worse, the loss of accountability itself," Puno said.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City on Monday called for a constitutional convention to revise the 1987 Constitution, which he said contained certain provisions "marked by ambiguity and procedural deficiency."
In a privileged speech, Puno said a Con-con was the 'most prudent, transparent and participatory mechanism' for Charter change.
Under a Con-con, the electorate elects delegates who will propose amendments, which will be subject to ratification in a plebiscite.
"Today, I submit to this August chamber that while the provisions of our Constitution are noble in aspiration, certain provisions are marked by ambiguity and procedural deficiency," said Puno, a former secretary of the interior.
"These deficiencies do not merely complicate interpretation; they obstruct reform, hinder effective governance, and erode public trust,' he added.
Puno cited the following provisions for what he called vagueness:
Article 11, Section 3.4 on the Accountability of Public Officials which states that 'In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed', with the meaning of the word forthwith repeatedly delayed, sidestepped, or redefined by the Senate after more than one-third of the House impeached and sent the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President last February 5;
Article 8, Section 8 on the Judicial and Bar Council, which states that members of the JBC should include 'a representative of Congress,' without specifying how this would be done within a bicameral legislature, resulting in compromise of only one member of Congress, alternating between the Senate and the House of Representatives, sitting in the JBC;
Article 6, Section 28.4 on the grant of tax exemptions, which states that 'no law granting any tax exemption shall be passed without the concurrence of a majority of all the members of the Congress,' without specifying if the bicameral Congress should act as a joint body or as separate chambers;
Article 7, Section 19 on the presidential grant of amnesty, which needs to be concurred in by 'a majority of the members of Congress,' which does not explicitly state whether this should be done through a joint vote or as separate votes by the Senate and the House; and
Article 10, Section 8 on setting a fixed three-year term for elective local officials, except barangay officials, which allowed Congress to pass at least five laws to postpone the holding of the barangay elections that Puno said has been abused either for political expediency or because of budgetary constraints, eroding democratic accountability.
"Can the clear urgency mandated by constitutional language now be indefinitely stalled under the guise of interpretive discretion? A single, ambiguous word can become the justification for legislative inaction, procedural manipulation, or worse, the loss of accountability itself,' Puno said.
'A Constitution that fails to provide clear, unambiguous guidance undermines its own purpose as the country's fundamental law. When its wording is subject to multiple interpretations, the predictability of law dissolves, opening the door to legal confusion and arbitrary application,' he added.
Puno said that the Filipinos deserved a Constitution that spoke plainly and very clearly.
"As the supreme law of the land, the Constitution must speak with clarity and force; its provisions must be comprehensible not only to courts and legislators but to the citizens whose rights it enshrines," Puno said.
Puno is a member of the National Unity Party (NUP), which has 44 members in the House of Representatives.
The NUP is the second largest political party in the House, next to Speaker Martin Romuldez's Lakas-CMD, which has over 100 members.
'The Con-con route, rather than a constituent assembly, ensures singularity of purpose, freeing delegates from being preoccupied or derailed by lawmaking, oversight functions, and impeachment concerns,' Puno said.
'Conflict of interest would be avoided, broader representation guaranteed, and risk of political expediency is reduced,' he added. –NB, GMA Integrated News
