An ally of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte is urging members of Congress to submit to the electorate the question of calling a constitutional convention to propose revision of the 1987 Constitution to establish a federal system of government.
Rep. Anthony del Rosario expressed strong belief that it would be “more prudent, participatory and democratic” to submit to the electorate the question of calling a constitutional covention.
“This is to dispel any doubts that the revision of the Constitution is being sought to advance political and economic interests of a chosen few,” he said in filing House Joint Resolution No. 39.
He said a shift from current unitary system of government to federal system is a viable solution to the sluggish socio-economic development in remote areas of the country.
“Great inequality across the regions, poverty in the countryside and rebellions that feed on social inequities remain a challenge after more than 27 years since the effectivity of the 1987 Constitution,” del Rosario said.
Del Rosario explained that the revision of the Constitution to establish a federal system of government “may be done most expediently” through a constitutional convention whose members shall be chosen by people, rather than constituent assemby, which is composed of membees of Congress who currently hold political power.