ANGELES CITY – Lakas-Kampi-CMD stalwart Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino said yesterday he will block any move that can pave the way for an abrupt shift to a parliamentary system of government once Congress convenes as a constitutional assembly (Con-ass).
“Once Con-ass convenes, I will move immediately to formalize the pre-conditions agreed before we signed House Resolution 1109 even before any amendment to the Constitution can be introduced,” Antonino told Punto in a telephone interview.
He was referring to the commitment of the 175 congressmen who signed the resolution, which paved the way for Con-ass, to honor the six year terms of some senators whose terms expire in 2013.
This, he stressed, is a commitment not to effect any change in the present Constitution before 2013, including a shift to a parliamentary system of government which could make Pres. Arroyo a prime minister.
Antonino noted that senators to be elected next year will also be entitled to another six-year terms. “This means that if we honor their terms, a change in the form of government can’t be had until their terms ends in 2016,” he added.
He said this should allay fears that the Con-ass will push for a parliamentary system of government to pave the way for Pres. Arroyo to become prime minister.
“They say that many congressmen are liars. But if only 20 to 30 percent of the 175 of us who supported HR 1190 would respect the pre-condition, there would not be enough to comprise two-thirds of votes required by law to carry out Charter change,” he said.
“Dapat cuentas claras (Everything should be clear). The matter of amending the Charter should not be clouded,” he said, although admitting that at present, the pre-condition “does not legally bind” the congressmen who backed HR 1190.
Antonino also denied reports about his alleged optimism that Congress has enough time for a Con-ass. “That was a rehash of my position over a month ago. Now I think there is no more time for Charter change,” he said.
“There is really no timetable yet for Con-ass. No group has been formed to come out with a draft for a new Charter. Once we convene, we will come out with individual proposals,” he said.
This, even as Antonino called on groups opposed to Charter change to support a joint resolution to be presented by congressmen before the Supreme Court to resolve the issue of whether amending the Constitution should require both the Senate or the Lower House.
Congressmen supporting the Con-ass have maintained that two-thirds vote of lawmakers, regardless of whether they come from the Senate or the Lower House, are enough to effect Charter change.
“Resolution of the Constitutional issue on this would be a great legacy for the future Congress of the country,” he said.
Antonino also said that he has three important amendments for the Charter, namely, lifting of economic restrictions on foreigners and electoral reforms that will prevent the election of a “minority president”.
“Since the time of Cory (Pres. Aquino) we always had a minority president. Even Erap (Pres. Estrada) had only 40 percent of votes,” he noted, blaming this on the multi-party system where there are more than two presidential candidates.
Antonino said he will propose that in case of such scenario where the winner in the presidential race gets less than 51 percent of the votes, another election should be held between the two top presidential candidates who garnered the top number of votes.
“This way, the one who wins the second election will surely garner more than 51 percent of the votes,” he added.
“Once Con-ass convenes, I will move immediately to formalize the pre-conditions agreed before we signed House Resolution 1109 even before any amendment to the Constitution can be introduced,” Antonino told Punto in a telephone interview.
He was referring to the commitment of the 175 congressmen who signed the resolution, which paved the way for Con-ass, to honor the six year terms of some senators whose terms expire in 2013.
This, he stressed, is a commitment not to effect any change in the present Constitution before 2013, including a shift to a parliamentary system of government which could make Pres. Arroyo a prime minister.
Antonino noted that senators to be elected next year will also be entitled to another six-year terms. “This means that if we honor their terms, a change in the form of government can’t be had until their terms ends in 2016,” he added.
He said this should allay fears that the Con-ass will push for a parliamentary system of government to pave the way for Pres. Arroyo to become prime minister.
“They say that many congressmen are liars. But if only 20 to 30 percent of the 175 of us who supported HR 1190 would respect the pre-condition, there would not be enough to comprise two-thirds of votes required by law to carry out Charter change,” he said.
“Dapat cuentas claras (Everything should be clear). The matter of amending the Charter should not be clouded,” he said, although admitting that at present, the pre-condition “does not legally bind” the congressmen who backed HR 1190.
Antonino also denied reports about his alleged optimism that Congress has enough time for a Con-ass. “That was a rehash of my position over a month ago. Now I think there is no more time for Charter change,” he said.
“There is really no timetable yet for Con-ass. No group has been formed to come out with a draft for a new Charter. Once we convene, we will come out with individual proposals,” he said.
This, even as Antonino called on groups opposed to Charter change to support a joint resolution to be presented by congressmen before the Supreme Court to resolve the issue of whether amending the Constitution should require both the Senate or the Lower House.
Congressmen supporting the Con-ass have maintained that two-thirds vote of lawmakers, regardless of whether they come from the Senate or the Lower House, are enough to effect Charter change.
“Resolution of the Constitutional issue on this would be a great legacy for the future Congress of the country,” he said.
Antonino also said that he has three important amendments for the Charter, namely, lifting of economic restrictions on foreigners and electoral reforms that will prevent the election of a “minority president”.
“Since the time of Cory (Pres. Aquino) we always had a minority president. Even Erap (Pres. Estrada) had only 40 percent of votes,” he noted, blaming this on the multi-party system where there are more than two presidential candidates.
Antonino said he will propose that in case of such scenario where the winner in the presidential race gets less than 51 percent of the votes, another election should be held between the two top presidential candidates who garnered the top number of votes.
“This way, the one who wins the second election will surely garner more than 51 percent of the votes,” he added.
