4-year term, 1 re-election for President under House panel's draft federal charter

The President will have a term of four years with one re-election under the draft federal charter introduced by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other lawmakers.

In its committee report, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments said it has considered and approved Resolution of Both Houses No. 15 which seeks to propose revisions in the 1987 Constitution without amendments.

The House panel's draft federal charter is different from that approved by the presidential Consultative Committee tasked to propose amendments to the Constitution.

The committee report, as well as its accompanying resolution, has been endorsed to the plenary for consideration on second reading.

Under Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, the form and structure of the government will be presidential-bicameral-federal system.

The President and the Vice President will have the same powers and functions as stated in the 1987 Constitution. However, a vote for the President will also be a vote for the Vice President, and they should belong to the same party.

The draft federal charter will also retain a bicameral legislative department where the House of Representatives will be composed of not more than 300 members, and the Senate composed of 24 senators.

A total of 80 percent of the House members will be composed of lawmakers from legislative districts, while 20 percent will be party-list lawmakers.

Members of the legislative branch will have a term of four years, as opposed to the current term of three years in the 1987 Constitution.

Meanwhile, members of the Supreme Court and judges of the lower courts will be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the Judicial Appointments and Disciplinary Council, which will be created in lieu of the Judicial and Bar Council.

Members of the Supreme Court will serve for a term of 10 years or until they reach the age of 70.

The draft federal charter also states that territorial and political subdivisions of the country will have its own political autonomy.

Federal states may be created upon petition of any contiguous, compact and adjacent provinces, highly-urbanized and component cities, and cities and municipalities in metropolitan areas.

Local governments and federal states will have to power to create their own sources of revenue and impose taxes, fees and charges.

The national government, however, will provide local governments with their just share in national taxes as determined by law.

All branches of the government will continue to function in a transitory capacity until all successors are elected.

The first election under the proposed charter will be held on the second Monday of May 2022.

The draft federal charter also specifically states that the terms of President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo will not be extended.

Duterte is also prohibited from running in the 2022 elections under the draft federal charter. —KG/RSJ, GMA News