Bishop: ‘Con-ass solons’ not representing constituents
12/19/2008 | 06:35 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Pro-administration lawmakers who insist on pushing a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution show they have lost touch with their constituents, a Catholic archbishop said.
Cotabato archbishop Orlando Quevedo said these lawmakers are also further pulling down the already adverse image of the House of Representatives.
"On this important matter, they no longer represent the people but only themselves," Quevedo said in his web log and on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website.
He branded such persistent moves for a constituent assembly as "stupid."
"Why, oh, why should the Lower House continue to push a concern that seems to be so self-serving and so unpopular? It pushes credibility to its lower depths. Sometimes I wonder what 'Lower House' really means,"
he added.
Quevedo urged lawmakers to instead focus on more urgent concerns that the country and particularly the poor people are currently facing.
He said lawmakers need to seriously consider the impact of economic globalization and the global financial meltdown.
Another concern that must be addressed soonest, he said, is the growing divide between the government and the Bangsamoro and the undeclared but continuing war in the Cotabato areas.
Quevedo reiterated the position of the CBCP that no process of Charter change should be allowed that intends to extend terms of office and that the 2010 elections must proceed.
He said that if constitutional amendments are to proceed it must not be by constituent assembly but by constitutional convention that must be imbued with integrity and transparency.
"I have a personal conviction about two provisions: a new constitution must not do away with the pro-life and pro-poor provisions of the present Constitution; it must also provide a constitutional basis for Moro self-determination, without violating national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Quevedo said.
He said that there must also be widespread people consultation regarding what needs to be changed in the Constitution. - GMANews.TV
Cotabato archbishop Orlando Quevedo said these lawmakers are also further pulling down the already adverse image of the House of Representatives.
"On this important matter, they no longer represent the people but only themselves," Quevedo said in his web log and on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website.
He branded such persistent moves for a constituent assembly as "stupid."
"Why, oh, why should the Lower House continue to push a concern that seems to be so self-serving and so unpopular? It pushes credibility to its lower depths. Sometimes I wonder what 'Lower House' really means,"
he added.
Quevedo urged lawmakers to instead focus on more urgent concerns that the country and particularly the poor people are currently facing.
He said lawmakers need to seriously consider the impact of economic globalization and the global financial meltdown.
Another concern that must be addressed soonest, he said, is the growing divide between the government and the Bangsamoro and the undeclared but continuing war in the Cotabato areas.
Quevedo reiterated the position of the CBCP that no process of Charter change should be allowed that intends to extend terms of office and that the 2010 elections must proceed.
He said that if constitutional amendments are to proceed it must not be by constituent assembly but by constitutional convention that must be imbued with integrity and transparency.
"I have a personal conviction about two provisions: a new constitution must not do away with the pro-life and pro-poor provisions of the present Constitution; it must also provide a constitutional basis for Moro self-determination, without violating national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Quevedo said.
He said that there must also be widespread people consultation regarding what needs to be changed in the Constitution. - GMANews.TV
