October 2010 election of Con-Con delegates proposed

The House committee on constitutional amendments proposed on Tuesday the election of Constitutional Convention delegates in October next year instead of holding it simultaneously with the May 2010 elections. Members of the committee, led by its chair La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, revised the date cited in the consolidated Con-Con bill from May 10 to October 25 amid expressions of concern, particularly from the Commission on Elections, that it would be difficult to hold the election of Con-Con delegates simultaneously with that of national and local officials. If the proposal is approved, the election of delegates to the Con-Con that would amend the 1987 Constitution would coincide with the scheduled barangay (village) elections. "Hopefully we can finish this thing [next week] with finality," Ortega said. During the hearing, members of the committee also decided to include in the bill the election of sectoral representatives that would join congressional district representatives in the Con-Con. Among the sectors being eyed for representation are those of workers, farmers, women, youth, fisherfolk, and indigenous communities, according to Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, one of Con-Con's proponents. Lawmakers in the hearing also agreed to give the Con-Con one year to change the Constitution. The committee has yet to decide on the budget for the Con-Con, but Ortega said he expects the technical working group led by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga to smooth out such details before the panel's next meeting on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Proposals to form a Con-Con that would change the Charter have been met with less heat than proposals to amend it through a constituent assembly. Late last month, Ortega's committee adopted the consolidated resolution calling for a Con-Con. Ortega has said Con-Con would be tackled in plenary once the accompanying implementing law is approved by the committee. – GMANews.TV