President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday renewed his call for the amendment or removal of the provision on the party-list system in the 1987 Constitution, saying this is only being used as an electoral vehicle of the rich and powerful.
“Sa totoo lang, kailangan natin baguhin na ang Constitution. Eh nasa sa inyo ‘yan (To be honest, we need to amend the Constitution. But it’s up to you),” Duterte said in a speech in Batangas.
He said proposing amendments to the Constitution could either be done through constituent assembly (Con-ass) or constitutional convention (Con-con).
“The Constitution is not really a perfect one. I would not say it is the worst Constitution, but we have copied that from America word-for-word halos (almost) when we established the Republic in 1947, naging Republic of the Philippines tayo (we became the Republic of the Philippines),” he added.
He also reiterated that it was during the administration of the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino that the party-list system was used as a backdoor to get elected to Congress.
“Panahon ni Cory ‘yang Constitution nila eh. Iyan lang party-list sana para — it was an enabling something law or in the Constitution itself na magkaroon ‘yung representation ‘yung mga tao, kanya-kanyang ano — exactly like for the common tao at sa mga mahirap (That Constitution was during Cory’s time. The party-list was supposed to be–it was an enabling law or in the Constitution itself to give representation to the people–exactly like for the common people and the poor)…” he said.
Duterte said it is now being used by the rich to establish themselves in Congress.
“Lahat ng mga mayaman, buong Pilipinas, lahat ng mga milyonaryo may party-list, agawan sila ng party-list. Iyong ibang walang party-list, binibili nila (All the rich, in the entire Philippines, all millionaires have party-lists, they’re grabbing party-lists. Others who have no party-lists, they buy),” he added.
He acknowledged that there are party-lists that really represent marginalized sectors, but noted that there are “opportunists” taking advantage of their wealth and power.
“Iyong iba naman eh talagang straight. Ang problema iyong mga oportunista. Iyon ang payo ko sa inyo (Others are really straight. The problem is the opportunists. That is my advice to you),” he said.
‘Surrender’
Meanwhile, Duterte renewed his call for New People's Army (NPA) rebels to surrender and assured them of free housing and other forms of assistance.
“Sabi ko sa kanila mag-surrender kayo may bahay (I told them just surrender, you will be given free housing),” he said.
He dismissed the NPA’s over 50-year rebellion as “plain stupidity.”
“Maawa sana ang Diyos sa kanila na malagyan ng kaunting pag-iisip na (I hope the Lord has mercy and touch their minds)...Alam mo (You know) if you continue to wage war against government for 53 years it is plain stupidity,” he added.
In a March 29 public address, Duterte lamented that some party-list groups allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are using public funds to support the rebels.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
