4 presidential aspirants open to Cha-cha

Four presidential aspirants in next year's elections had expressed openness toward amending the 1987 Constitution, but with conditions. The presidential hopefuls - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Sen. Francis Escudero (NPC), Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. (NP), and Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (LP) - made their stances on Charter change known Tuesday during a forum at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City. Teodoro, a former congressman representing Tarlac province, said he is in favor of amending the 1987 Constitution but only if it's done after the May 2010 elections and through a constitutional convention.. "It failed to look foward," Teodoro said of the current Constitution, which he described as "reactive" as its focus was to remove all "vestiges" of the Marcos dictatorship. According to him, among the provisions that should be amended are those concerning autonomous regions and foreign ownership of lands and corporations. He said the Constitution should be amended because piece-meal legislation seeking to address certain issues are "not sustainable" in the long run. Villar said amending the Constitution should undergo the proper process. "Basta tama lang ang proseso, wala akong problema diyan (As long as the proper process is observed, I have no problem with it)," he said. Like Teodoro, Villar said Charter change should be done only after next year's polls, as any attempt to amend the Constitution now would make the public suspicious of the motives behind it. Escudero said amending the Constitution should not be done at the end of any administration. "Hindi po ako sang-ayon sa Charter change kapag patapos na ang termino ng sinumang administrasyon (I am not in favor of Charter change if it is done at the end of any administration)." Even as he maintained that the implementation of laws, and not the fundamental law itself, is what needs to be changed, Escudero said plebiscites must be held to determine whether the public wants Charter change, and if so, how they want it done. If the public is in favor of Charter change, provisions on the terms of local officials, ownership limits, and limits to executive powers should be reviewed, he said. Aquino likewise said there must be debates and consultations over whether Charter change is necessary. "Bago po natin guluhin yung lipunan, manigurado tayong kelangan nga natin yun (We must ensure that Charter change is needed before we make any concrete move)," he said. But if the public wants the Constitution amended, it should be done through a constitutional convention, he said, adding that there must also be a "social contract" limiting the amending of the Constitution to certain provisions like the powers of the President. It was under the administration of Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, when the 1987 Constitution was created through a constitutional convention shortly after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship. Moves by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's House allies to amend the Constitution, particularly through the passage of House Resolution 1109, which calls on Congress to convene itself into a constituent assembly, have been met with widespread protests. Critics allege that Mrs. Arroyo want to extend her stay in power - a claim repeatedly denied by Palace officials. - GMANews.TV