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