Hinimok ni Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. ang House Committee on Constitutional Amendments na iangkla ang substitute bill nito sa charter change ang panukala ni dating Chief Justice Reynato Puno na nagsusulong ng isang “hybrid” constitutional convention (con-con).
Sa sulat ni Barzaga kay panel chair Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez na nais nito isama ang panukalang “hybrid” set-up sa con-con bill.
“I will be propose an amendment during the committee deliberation of the consolidated bills and if not approved in the committee level, I am reserved my right to propose such amendment during the plenary discussions (on the con-con) bill,” ayon kay Barzaga.
Sinabi ng beteranong mambabatas, ang pag halal sa delegado para sa con-con ay siyang pinaka “best mode” para amyendahan ang 1987 Constitution.
Gayunpaman, ayaw ng dating chief justice Puno na tatahakin ng Kongreso ang traditional route kung saan lahat ng delegates ay ihalal ng sambayan.
Iminungkahi ni Puno na ang Rodriguez panel ang magpatibay ng hybrid set-up lalo at tila lumalala ngayon ang mga proseso sa pulitika, may nakakubli din ito na panganib na ang mga halal na delegado sa isang constitutional convention ay magiging mga proxy o factotums ng political dynasties at mga oligarko sa ekonomiya.”
Sinabi ni Barzaga na si retired chief justice Puno ang namuno nuon sa isang consultative committee noong 2018 na inatasang gumawa ng panukalang federal constitution, na sa ilalim ng hybrid model, ang con-con ay isang kumbinasyon ng mga delegado na magkakasamang inihalal ng publiko at mga eksperto na itinalaga at sinusuri ng Malacañang at Kongreso.
Mungkahi ng beteranong mambabatas, ang con-con ay dapat binubuo ng 51 delegado na may tatlong delegado na inihalal bawat rehiyon at 40 delegado na hihirangin ng isang komite na binubuo ng Pangulo, Pangalawang Pangulo, Punong Mahistrado, Pangulo ng Senado at Speaker of the House na maghahalal sa kanilang mga sarili kung sino ang magiging tagapangulo ng komite sa mga paghirang.
“The appointees shall be of good moral character with known probity and considered as experts in their respective fields particularly, (1) health, (2) agriculture, (3) transportation, (4) information technology, (5) disaster resilience, (6) economics, (7) foreign investments, (8) environment, (9) labor, (10) infrastructure, (11) law and such other experts in other fields as may be determined by the committee on appointments and the various sectors in our community should be properly represented by at least one (1) appointee for every sector namely indigenous people, senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, LGBTQIA+, women, youth and other sectors which the appointing authority may consider necessary,” pahayag ni Barzaga’s sa kaniyang panukalang amendment.
Ipinunto din ni Barzaga na ang hybrid set-up ay hindi lumalabag sa sa Constitution.
“In 1971, under an earlier constitution, Republic Act No. 6132 provided that delegates to a constitutional convention would be elected by the national legislative district, in a special election. The 48 members of the Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Constitution were not elected by the people and were appointed by the President at that time, Cory Aquino,” dagdag pa ni Barzaga.
