Palace frowns anew on calls for 'wholesale' constitutional amendment

Malacañang on Friday yet again turned down calls for “wholesale" amendments to the Constitution or charter change (Chacha). “No, we do not see the need at this point for wholesale changes in the Constitution," Ricky Carandang, presidential communications development and strategic planning head, told Malacañang reporters in a briefing. “Again, there are problems of poverty (and) inequality that we believe we can resolve, and those are the priorities that don’t necessarily need changing the Charter," he added. He even cited constitution expert Fr. Joaquin Bernas, who said that a constitutional convention or constituent assembly is not needed to revise specific provisions in the Constitution. “Pwede ka naman maghain ng isang proposed amendment (You can always file a proposal for amendment) and make it go through the legislative mill, first, second, third reading. So, if there are specific provisions in the Constitution that need to be changed that some members of Congress feel should be changed, maybe they can pursue that path," he said. Carandang warned that opening up the Constitution to a convention or constituent assembly is tantamount to opening it up to wholesale, broad revisions. “And, at this point, we don’t see the need to do that as far as our agenda is concerned which is, as you know, increasing social services, reducing poverty. We don’t see the need at this point," he said. He clarified that Malacañang does not close its door on the amendments “but it’s just not a priority right now for the administration." Carandang further said that they have yet to hear any specific provision lawmakers want to revise in the Constitution. “What provisions in the Constitution do these proponents want changed? Ang sinasabi lang kasi ngayon, yung discussion ngayon, is baguhin natin yung Saligang Batas (We're currently discussing changes to it) but we have not heard specifics. We’re just hearing calls for Chacha. So parang, don’t we want to know exactly what provisions they feel need to be changed?" he said. — TJD, GMANews.TV