A bill proposing that a constitutional convention (con-con) be held after the 2010 elections was filed in the Senate yesterday amidst continuous debate on amending the 1987 charter, reported inquirer.net. 

Countering the scheme of current legislators effecting charter change, Senate Bill (SB) 2923 proposes that during the 2010 elections two delegates from every legislative district be voted to form the body that will draft constitutional amendments in a one-year process.

“During this difficult period characterized by political and economic unrest, it is incumbent that the constitutional reforms be completed through a transparent process that ensures utmost participation by the nation at large,” Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who spearheaded SB 2923, was quoted as saying by gmanews.tv.

“If we are to change our Constitution, the present officials should not benefit. That is why the Liberal Party is pushing a constitutional convention,” Roxas was also earlier quoted as saying by philstar.com.

According to inquirer.net, the bill states that “The revised or amended Constitution should be submitted then for ratification in a plebiscite, which will be held not earlier than 60 days or later than 90 days after its approval.”

Only natural-born Filipino citizens 21 years old of age older on election day may be chosen as con-con delegates, gmanews.tv added. Incumbent officials are disqualified from candidacy and may only pursue a seat in the con-con if they resign from office. A total of P1 billion is also set to be allocated for the process.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita asked that discussions on charter change be set aside so that the government can focus on keeping the economy afloat in the midst of the global financial slowdown, noted bworldonline.com. However, he said that Malacañang is still open to amending the constitution.

“For us to move forward there should be changes in economic provisions and even political structure,” he was quoted as saying.

Photo: Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas in “Euro-general Controversy”, taken from senate.gov.ph.

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