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Cha-cha not needed to boost economy: Ex-Justice Carpio

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Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240212-senate-hearing-chacha-MD-3743.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Former Supreme Court Judge Antonio Carpio during the Senate hearing on proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution in Pasay City on February 12, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</span> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — There are ways to boost the economy without touching the Constitution, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Thursday amid efforts to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.</p><p>Carpio is part of a broad coalition of organizations that opposes Charter change.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/9/marcos-says-charter-change-push-limited-to-economic-provisions-104">Marcos says charter change push limited to economic provisions</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/12/ph-already-one-of-most-open-economies-investment-banker-1712">PH already one of most open economies: investment banker</a></div><p>At their press conference on Thursday, Carpio said present investment laws already make the Philippine economy liberalized; in fact, he said, more liberal than Vietnam and China, which get more foreign direct investment. The real problems lie elsewhere, he said.</p><p> &quot;The real causes are one, we have very high power rates, energy. Second, we have a very complicated bureaucratic procedure for investors. And third, rule of law,&quot; Carpio said.</p><p>&quot;Our own government does not follow the rule of law--like they canceled the franchise of Manila Water, Maynilad, so that sent a very strong signal to the foreign investors that we don’t follow the rule of law,” Carpio explained.</p><p> “We can address those issues without changing the Constitution. The Constitution has nothing to do with the high unemployment here, with the low foreign direct investment and with the slow growth of the economy,” the former magistrate added.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/12/house-to-limit-cha-cha-to-econ-after-marcos-statement-1901">House to limit cha-cha to econ after Marcos statement</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/12/foreign-biz-groups-back-economic-cha-cha-2228">Foreign biz groups back economic cha-cha</a></div><p>Economist Emmanuel Leyco agrees with Carpio.</p><p>“Para po mengganyo ang atin pong mga investor, hindi ang Constitution ang kailangan nating baguhin kungdi kailangan po tayong maglunsad ng isang economic program na magpapalakas ng ating ekonomiya tulad po ng ating agrikultura at ng ating industriya,” Leyco remarked.</p><p>“Hindi po totoo na wala tayong kapital dito sa Pilipinas. Napakarami pong mga Pilipino ang nangangapital sa labas. Lumalabas sila kasi kulang ang investment opportunities dito sa Pilipinas na kung ikaw ay maliit na mangangapital, hindi ka makakapuwesto,” he further said.</p><p>With the February 25 anniversary of the EDSA People Power coming up, the coalition asked Filipinos to come together and call for the end of cha-cha.</p><p>The 1986 People Power toppled the Marcos dictatorship.</p><p>“Kung nagawa ng taumbayan pabagsakin ang isang diktadurya, magagawa rin niyang biguin ang charter change na tinutulak ng mga prime movers din ng dictatorship at nagpapatuloy ng mga political dynasties,” Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, Secretary General of Sanlakas, said.</p><p>Carpio reiterated that the people’s initiative is flawed since there is no implementing law to base this on. He, thus, suggested that Congress pass a new law.</p><p>Carpio also noted that the change being pushed in the people’s initiative can be considered a revision, which is against the law.</p><p>Under the said initiative, Congress will vote jointly instead of separately in deliberating changes to the Constitution. Senators are concerned that their votes will be disregarded with the House of Representatives having more members.</p><p>Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna also weighed in on the issue, “Dapat po siguro yung people’s initiative should really be initiated by the people and I think right now there is no real genuine initiative from the people to change the Constitution.”</p><p>All proceedings regarding the initiative, however, have already been indefinitely suspended by the Commission on Elections.</p><div><strong>RECALL SIGNATURES</strong></div><p>Despite COMELEC’s action, Bayan Muna Chair Neri Colmenares said they are still pursuing their “Bawi Pirma campaign” where those who signed forms for the People’s Initiative are encouraged to withdraw their signatures.</p><p>On Thursday, COMELEC came out with withdrawal forms after Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa told a Senate Committee hearing that there are individuals who want to recall their signatures.</p><p>The said withdrawal forms are available in local COMELEC offices and can be submitted there.</p><p>The poll body, however, gave a caveat.</p><p>“COMELEC’s acceptance of withdrawal forms is for recording purposes only and shall not be construed as formal action by the Commission on the signature sheets/petition for People’s Initiative,” a COMELEC statement read.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/13/pirma-donors-for-charter-change-tv-ad-don-t-want-names-revealed-1824">PIRMA: Donors for charter change TV ad don&#x27;t want names revealed</a></div>

<p>There are ways to boost the economy without touching the Constitution, according to retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.</p>

There are ways to boost the economy without touching the Constitution, according to retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Carpio says no need for cha-cha to boost economy

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Retired Supreme Court Justice Carpio says no need for cha-cha to boost economy

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 15, 2024 06:21 PM PHT

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1987 constitution

economic provisions

charter change

adolfo azcuna

neri colmenares

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