NO TO CHARTER CHANGE
Posted by Batas Internet Media on Monday, January 24, 2011
Under: Articles
NO TO CHARTER CHANGE
By MARLOWE CAMELLO
--- In ang_bagong_pinoy@yahoogroups.com, Marlowe <mcamello@...> wrote:
>
> There are two groups, I might venture to say, who are clamoring for the Charter
> Change (aka: Cha-Cha).
>
> First, those who are greedy politicians who want more self-empowerment and
> enrichment; and
>
> Second, those who do not really know how really good the current Philippine
> constitution is.
>
> We need to recall history that the current constitution was born out of the then
> fresh hardships that the Filipino people suffered in the hands of Dictator
> Ferdinand Marcos.
>
>
> When the regime of Dictator Marcos collapsed on its own weight of corruption,
> Mrs. Cory Aquino, who was then elected President forcing Mr. Marcos to resign
> and fled the Philippines, promptly form a constitutional commission composed of
> highly competent members in 1986 that drafted the present constitution.
>
>
> The Con-Com was composed of equally patriotic dignitaries whose only objective
> was to create a constitution that would prevent the kind of weaknesses all the
> prior constitutions had, including the Marcos Constitution of 1972.
>
>
> I do not believe for a moment that the creation of the present constitution, the
> Cory Constitution, was tainted with personal political ambitions of those who
> drafted it. In fact, there are more safeguards against public officials abuses
> in Article XI in this constitution.
>
> The problem in enforcing the present constitution is not the constitution itself
> but the policy makers specially from the President and the Congress who are
> supposed to adopt policies to implement this constitution. All that we need to
> today is to adopt the following policies:
>
> 1. Adopt a Jury Systems Law to implement Article II, Section 1, of the
> Constitution to prevent "LUTONG MAKAW JUSTICE" in the Philippines; and
>
> 2. Adopt the Electoral Reform Act to implement Article II, Section 26
> of the same Constitution to stop politicians from acquiring public office like a
> SARI-SARI STORE of their own.
>
> If Congress and the President are averse to the legislation of the above
> policies, then all the people should do is avail of Republic Act 6735, the
> Public Initiative Law, to implement the above two constitutional provisions by
> the direct peaceful act of the people.
>
> Adoption of the Jury Systems Law: I recommend the following proposed draft to
> create the jury systems law to stop the "Lutong Makaw Justice" wherein only the
> rich and powerful characters get protection from prosecution for their abuses in
> office at the instance of the people. This will serve as a basic anti-dote
> against graft and corruption:
>
>
> http://www.the-filipino-people.com/JSL-Preamble.html
> (Starting with the Preamble and thence Article I thru Article XIII)
>
>
> Legislation of an Electoral Reform Act: To stop the rampant constitutional
> violation and abuses of public officials in electing themselves and appointing
> their family members into public positions from generation to generation.
> Currently, public offices are run like the SARI-SARI Store of powerful
> politicians. I offer the proposed draft of the Electoral Reform Act in the web
> site below for enactment as a public initiative:
>
>
> http://www.the-filipino-people.com/Election-Reform-Initiative.html
>
> Current complaints about the present constitution:
>
> 1. Weak Judicial System - Of course it is because justice is a government
> monopoly. We may call it the "Atin-Atin Justice System". This monopoly has to
> be dismantled promptly. If you are not covered by the umbrella of protection by
> a powerful politician or if you cannot buy that umbrella, then you are out of
> luck. The solution of course is adoption of the jury system to force
> politicians to bow to the rule of law by the judgment of the people.
>
> 2. Lacks encouragement for foreigners to invest in the Philippines - Does not
> offer incentives for foreign business entrepreneurs to invest in the
> Philippines. WRONG. Rampant corruption among powerful public officials who
> demand bribe money in mega amounts is the very reason foreigners are discouraged
> to invest in the Philippines.
>
>
> Change the constitution is not the way to go. Implementing the present
> constitution with the above recommended legislation is the easiest and less
> costly means to greatly improve the social condition and economy of the Filipino
> people. All these can be done by people's initiative according to the rules of
> Republic Act 6735.
>
>
> Marlowe in California
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