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Solon calls for 'con-con' in shift to federalism

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Instead of a constituent assembly, a minority lawmaker is pushing for charter change through a constitutional convention, where the people will elect delegates who will draft a new constitution. Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza said previous attempts to change the charter through a constituent assembly were rejected by the people due to fears of lawmakers introducing self-serving amendments. &quot;If we again insist on a constituent assembly, we clearly risk repeating the blunders of the past, and we might lose this great opportunity for our nation to embrace a whole new Constitution,&quot; he said Sunday. The House senior deputy minority leader said a constitutional convention may cost more than a constituent assembly in terms of time and budget, but he believes this would be a &quot;sensible investment&quot; for the future of the Filipinos. He added that President Rodrigo Duterte was advocating for a constitutional convention when he was running for office in 2016.&quot;This is the first time in more than 30 years that we will be rewriting the Constitution. We might as well invest wisely in perfecting a truly responsive and highly relevant new charter through a constitutional convention,&quot; Atienza said.A House resolution is calling for Congress to vote jointly in a bid to change the charter through a constituent assembly. But Senator Panfilo Lacson is set to file a resolution that will require the Senate to convene as a constituent assembly separate from the House.A three-fourth vote of members of the Congress to convene a constituent assembly.

Instead of a constituent assembly, a minority lawmaker is pushing for charter change through a constitutional convention, where the people will elect delegates who will draft a new constitution.

Instead of a constituent assembly, a minority lawmaker is pushing for charter change through a constitutional convention, where the people will elect delegates who will draft a new constitution.