Manila Philippines – In her weekly radio program “Biserbisyong Leni”, Robredo said she is
in favor of the creation of the 19-member consultative body to review the 1987
Constitution to introduce possible amendments and pave way for federalism form
of government.
This statement from Vice
President Leni Robredo came after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the
composition of the said committee.
On Friday, the lawmakers also
welcomed the creation of the said body tasked to the Constitution.
“This is a welcome development
because in recent weeks, it has been a little alarming because there is the
impression that this is being rushed with the House of Representatives
immediately approving itself as Constituent Assembly,” Robredo said in radio
program.
“Our Constitution is not
something to tinker with haphazardly. This needs a comprehensive study, and the
public should be given a chance to be heard. The more debates we have on it,
the better,” Robredo said.
President Duterte announced
that the following individuals will be part of the Committee. They include:
Former Chief Justice Reynato
Puno; Randolph Climaco Parcasio who is affiliated with Nur Misuari’s wing of
the Moro National Liberation Front; retired Supreme Court associate justices
Bienvenido Reyes and Antonio Eduardo Nachura; Dean Ranhilio Callangan Aquino of
San Beda College of Law; political science professor Edmund Tayao of UST;
former Dean Julio Teehankee of the De La Salle University’s College of Liberal
Arts.
Meanwhile, Robredo said that
reviewing the Constitution could wait.
“My concern is, there is a
question that needs to be answered first. Is Charter change the only way to
give a certain autonomy to the local government units? Can’t this be resolved
by amending the Local Government Code?” she said on a side line interview during
her visit to evacuees affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano.
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