cha-cha

Sen. Bam: Patay ang Cha-Cha kung walang suporta ng Senado

Sen. Bam Aquino insisted that any attempt by the House of Representatives to revise the 1987 Constitution without the Senate’s participation is unconstitutional. 

 “Anumang hakbang na gawin ng Kamara para baguhin ang Saligang Batas na hindi kasama ang Senado ay unconstitutional,” Sen. Bam asserted during the hearing of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments on the draft federal charter submitted by the consultative committee. 

Sen. Bam’s view was supported by several members of the consultative committee, including its chairman, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, retired Associate Justice Eduardo Nachura and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel. 

 “I expressed my personal opinion that the voting should be done separately by both Houses of Congress and I gave my reasons for that opinion,” said Puno, adding that he based his opinion on historical reasons and coherent reading of the different provisions of the 1987 Constitution.  

“It cannot be done na sila lang,” said Pimentel, referring to the House of Representatives.  

Nachura, for his part, said that he wrote a book about Constitutional law, where he stated that voting should be done separately. Other members of the consultative committee — professors Julio Teehankee and Edmund Tayao – also supported the views of their senior colleagues. 

Sen. Bam Aquino also stood firm on his stand against the postponement of the 2019 elections.  

“Ang eleksyon ay haligi ng demokrasya. Kapag binuwag mo pa ang haliging iyon, baka gumuho ang demokrasya natin,” said Sen. Bam.

“A number of us have already said that we are not in favor of postponing the elections,” Sen. Bam added, referring to his colleagues in the Senate.

Sen. Bam: Be vigilant of Cha-cha moves, protect right to vote

Senator Bam Aquino urged the public to be vigilant about the government’s Charter change move, stressing that it could deprive people of the right to choose their next leaders.

“Nangangamba ako na dahil sa Charter change na isinusulong ng pamahalaang ito, mawawala ang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan na pumili at magdesisyon,” said Sen. Bam.

“Boto na nga lang ang natitirang boses ng ilang Pilipinong hindi napakikinggan ng gobyerno, ipagkakait pa ito sa kanila” added Sen. Bam.

 According to Sen. Bam, the Filipino people will be at the losing end if the administration insists on postponing the 2019 elections.

 “Agrabyado talaga ang sambayanan kapag hindi itutuloy ang eleksyon sa isang taon dahil mapagkakaitan ng boses sa pagpapasya ang mga kababayan natin,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

“Huwag naman po sanang tanggalan ng karapatan ang taumbayan na pumili at bumoto ng mga lider natin,” the senator added.

 Sen. Bam assured the public that the opposition will keep a close watch on the government’s effort to change the 1987 Constitution to ensure that the Filipino people’s interest will be protected.

“Kailangan po nating bantayan na interes ng taumbayan ang mamayani sa gitna ng planong Cha-Cha. Hindi natin hahayaang maagrabyado ang taumbayan sa isinusulong na ito ng gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam challenges Congress to pass anti-political dynasty law before any Cha-cha talks

Senator Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to prohibit political dynasties in the country, stressing that the passage of an anti-dynasty law is a necessary precursor to any moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

 “Kailangan nating ipasa ang anti-political dynasty law nang mabilisan, lalo na ngayong may banta ng Cha-Cha at pinipilit ang Pederalismo,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 1688.

“I call on Congress to pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Act before any moves towards Federalism,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said that no less than the 1987 Constitution itself prohibits political dynasties, but there is a need for an implementing law to enforce it.

 “There are already 6 anti-political dynasty bills filed and we have the Constitution on our side. I am confident we will have the votes to pass an anti-political dynasty law in the Senate,” Sen. Bam affirmed.

If passed into law, Senate Bill No. 1688 will prohibit the spouse, or any person related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election from holding or running for any elective office in the same province in the same election.

 If the incumbent elective official is a national one, the aforementioned relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same province where the former is registered voter.

If none of the candidates are related to an incumbent elective official but are related to one another within the said prohibited degree, they and their spouses, shall be disqualified from holding or running for any local elective office within the same province in the same election.

 In all cases, no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to the incumbent official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter.

 Sen. Bam hopes an anti-political dynasty law will give the Filipino people a greater variety of candidates to vote for, with new names, faces, platforms and solutions for the country.

 “We must encourage and empower more excellent Filipinos with a passion for service, to run for office and change the Philippine government from within,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Build trust before Cha-cha, pass anti-dynasty law

Senator Bam Aquino insisted that without the trust in the process and the people behind it, no Charter change will be accepted by the public.
 
“Kailangan ng tiwala ng taumbayan sa proseso at tiwala sa nagsasagawa ng proseso. How do we make sure na para ito sa tao at hindi para sa pulitiko,” Sen. Bam said during the Senate hearing on proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution.
 
As part of the confidence-building measure in the process, Sen. Bam suggested that an anti-dynasty law be first enacted ahead of moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.
 
“Intensified political dynasties, even warlordism in some areas might be a drawback of a federal form of government,” said Sen. Bam, emphasizing that passing an anti-dynasty law would enhance the public’s trust in the shift.
 
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno agreed to Sen. Bam’s pronouncement, saying the existence of political dynasties is one problem that needs to be addressed by those pushing for federalism.
 
“As it is now, these political dynasties already possess so much power. If you go to federalism, you will not only be giving them so much power, but you will be giving them sovereign powers, and that is a no-no,” said Puno.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam objected to the House’s move to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
 
Sen. Bam issued the statement after the House approved Resolution No. 9, which seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly that will introduce changes in the Charter.
 
The Senator believes that a process as important as a Constitutional Change cannot be rushed and proposed that if ever a change will be done, a Constitutional Convention process would be more acceptable to the people than a Constituent Assembly composed of politicians.

Bam: Cha-cha must examine other important aspects of 1987 Constitution

CEBU CITY — Sen. Bam Aquino prefers constitutional convention (con-con) as means to amend the 1987 Constitution, adding the action must be a “genuine process” where other important provisions of the Charter will be thoroughly examined, in addition to federalism.

 “Sang-ayon po ako sa constitutional convention. I’m open to federalism pero kapag binukas kasi natin ang Constitution, hindi lang po iyan puwede for one aspect. Lahat po ng aspeto, kailangang suriin,” said Sen. Bam during a radio interview here.

 He added, “Once we open up the con-con, sana po it goes through a genuine process of assessment kasi 30 years na rin po ang ating Constitution. How do we update our Constitution? Ano ang pinaka-akma na sistema at istruktura sa ating bansa in the 21st century?”

 Sen. Bam believes the Charter’s economic provisions, term limits to local officials, among others already mentioned, need to be revisited, reviewed and updated to be attuned to the present situation.

 “I think ang three-year term ng local officials natin, masyado pong maikli. As we know, most of the reforms na kailangan ng bansa, takes six to ten years,” he explained.

 In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam said congressmen also tried to introduce amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution but it didn’t take off.

 A constitutional convention is a process where the people elect delegates, who will study proposals to amend or revise the Charter. The amendments drafted by the delegates must be approved by the people in a referendum.

 While he is open to a shift to federal form of government, Sen. Bam said some local officials have recently expressed apprehensions over the move.

 “Pagdating po sa federalism, bukas po tayo diyan pero iyong ibang governors na nakausap ko, marami rin silang tanong,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Another basic question is, how much will it cost? Will this mean new taxes? Will it mean new bureaucracy kasi kung magkaka-regional governments tayo, parang may next layer na naman tayo ng burukrasya,” he added.

 However, Sen. Bam trusts that the upcoming House and Senate leadership will allow the process to move properly.

 “Itong lahat po, pag-uusapan, hihimayin, dadaan sa proseso ng pag-uusap. I’m hoping lang na di po iyan magtagal ng 3 or 4 years. Sana po maybe 1 year o 1 year and a half, tapos na po iyong proseso,” said Sen. Bam.

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