Solon warns against using West PH Sea issue to gather support for cha-cha

MANILA — Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co called out on Wednesday the proposal to amend certain territorial and economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, saying the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue should not be used to gather support for charter change.

"Huwag sana gamitin ang isyu ng WPS para lokohin ang publiko na suportahan ang Cha-Cha. This is clout chasing at its worst," she said in a statement.

"With all due respect, let's make it make sense. Ayaw natin ng dayuhang kontrol sa ating karagatan, pero kapag pumasa ang Cha-Cha, bibigyang daan ang 100% na pagmamay-ari sa susing industriya, utilities, lupain, eskwelahan, media at iba-iba pang parte ng ekonomiya," Co explained. 

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"Economic Cha-Cha backstabs our national sovereignty. Kaya nga natin pinaglalaban ang karapatan natin sa WPS dahil gusto nating magamit ang yaman ng Pilipinas para sa masang Pilipino, hindi para sa dayuhan at iilan," she added.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. filed on Tuesday Resolution of Both Houses No. 1, proposing to include in the definition of National Territory “explicit references to the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Continental Shelf, and the West Philippine Sea” and clarify “the Philippines’ sovereign rights over these maritime zones in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other applicable international laws.”

RBH 1 also proposes to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in economic provisions seen as “restrictive,” to allow Congress flexibility to legislate economic measures without needing constitutional amendments.

These include the 60-percent Filipino citizenship requirement in the (1) “exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources, (2) transfer and conveyance of private lands, (3) operation of public utilities, and (4) ownership of educational institutions, other than those run by religious groups and mission boards. 

The phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” is also sought to be added in provisions regarding the 100-percent requirement in the ownership and management of mass media, and the 70-percent Filipino citizenship requirement to engage in the advertising industry.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong is open to charter change discussions, but said it should be limited to certain economic provisions.

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“I'm up for the discussion and I even support amending some provisions, key provisions in the Constitution, kasi matagal na po itong Constitution na ito. Mas matanda na po itong Constitution sa mga tao na nandito ngayon sa kwartong ito. I guess we need to make sure that our Constitution is alive, dynamic, that it can also reflect the current situation, the current demand of the country,” Adiong said.

“The reason why I supported the move, effort to amend key provisions of the Constitution, particularly the economic provisions, so that we can also be at par and compete with the international market trend. Kasi… medyo nasa dulo na po tayo. So if there is an effort to again revive the issue on constitutional amendments to cite specific provisions, then I am up for it,” he added.

“I would stick to limiting the discussion on key provisions. Hindi pag-uusapan ‘yung political provisions ng ating Constitution. This is just merely surgical. We target what are the causes of why the country is now lagging behind in terms of socio-economic condition compared to our ASEAN neighbors and let's stick to that,” Adiong noted.

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