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Time for Cha-cha as politicians learned to 'game' Constitution: reform advocates

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Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Sen. Robin Padilla presides Senate PRIB" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/02/02/20201013-house-of-representatives-velasco-jc-21.jpg"/><figcaption>Sen. Robin Padilla presides over the second hybrid hearing of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes Friday, August 26, 2022. <em>Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Constitutional reform advocates on Friday insisted the need to amend the country&#x27;s 35-year old Charter, alleging that politicians have learned to &quot;play around&quot; with the laws.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/25/22/senate-panel-starts-new-cha-cha-debate">&#x27;Time to amend Cory constitution&#x27;: Senate panel kicks off new Cha-cha debate</a></li></ul><p>During the second hearing of the Senate committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, panel chairperson Sen. Robin Padilla asked Charter change (Cha-cha) proponents if the 1987 Constitution, in their view, is already &quot;corrupted.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/26/22/congress-cant-be-trusted-to-amend-constitution-analyst">Analyst: Congress can&#x27;t be trusted to amend Constitution due to conflict of interest</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Sinasabi mo ba na na-corrupt na? Hindi ka na naniniwala na kaya pa ng 1987 Constitution? Sabi mo kasi parang alam na ng mga politician laruin ang Constitution,&quot; Padilla asked.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/08/18/is-charter-change-really-necessary">&#x27;Is charter change really necessary?&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Center for Excellence in Local Governance (CELG) official Eric de Torres agreed.</p><p>&quot;Naka-adapt at naka-adjust na ang mga politiko sa sistema kaya kailangan nang baguhin,&quot; he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, CoRRECT Movement co-founder Orion Dumdum blamed the framers of the 1987 Constitution for the lack of economic growth in the Philippines, calling the Charter&#x27;s economic provisions &quot;protectionist.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We were making things worse [with] our protectiveness... Ang Constitution natin dapat nang baguhin... Mali at minadali ang pagsulat ng 1987 Constitution. Naging maging mas malala ang pagiging protectionist natin,&quot; he said. </p><p>Dumdum said it is about time to revisit the country&#x27;s &quot;60-40&quot; rule that prohibits foreign entities from investing in certain economic areas.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/08/25/22/should-ph-ok-entry-of-foreign-educational-institutions">Harvard, Stanford PH? Allowing foreign academic institutions to be studied</a></li></ul><p>But lawyer Christian Monson, one of the framers of the Constitution, insisted that Charter change would not resolve the country&#x27;s woes.</p><p>&quot;Why are we going to change the Constitution... when we haven’t tried implementing fully the Constitution and empowering the local government?&quot; he said.</p><p>He repeated his view that dismantling the political dynasties that currently dominate the country&#x27;s political system should be prioritized over Cha-cha.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/25/22/dismantle-political-dynasties-first-before-cha-cha-push-expert">Dismantle political dynasties first before Charter change push: expert</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Pass the legislation like the anti-dynasty, like changing the party-list system, and see which works,&quot; he suggested.</p><p>Padilla vowed to conduct another set of hearings to thoroughly discuss the proposals.</p><p>&quot;Pag-usapan natin kung paano tayo hahakbang patungo sa pagbabago hindi puro pangako,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2195181" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Sen. Robin Padilla vowed to conduct another set of hearings to thoroughly discuss the proposals.

Time for Cha-cha as politicians learned to 'game' Constitution: reform advocates

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Time for Cha-cha as politicians learned to 'game' Constitution: reform advocates

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2022 09:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

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Robinhood Padilla

Robin Padilla

cha cha

chacha

charter change

1987 Constitution

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Christian Monsod

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