Nene Pimentel says Duterte admin should amend Charter within first two years

Former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. on Friday said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte should amend the Constitution within the first two years of his term so that the next four years would be for the new Charter's implementation.

Pimentel, an advocate of federalism form of government that Duterte is also espousing, made the suggestion when asked how can the incoming president push for federalism that needs a revision of the Constitution.

"Ang suggestion ko kay President Duterte, since he has a six-year term, 'yung first two years ay dapat ilaan for the revision of the Constitution through constituent assembly or constitutional convention kung yun ang gustuhin niya, and the next four years [will be for] implementasyon,” he said in a forum on federalism in Greenhills, San Juan.

Pimentel said he prefers constitutional convention since it is more participative although he admitted that it is costly.

"Mas maganda talaga, siguro because I’m  people-oriented mas gusto ko yung participation but it will be costly,” he said.

He said one of the things that should be amended in the Constitution is the provision on political dynasty.

"Dapat ma-spell out na sa Constitution ang mga miyembro ng pamilya who cannot run for public office," said Pimentel whose son, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, is an incumbent senator.

"Ngayon kailangan pa gumawa ng batas pang anti-political dynasty, pero paano mo babaguhin ang batas kung ang mga miyembro ng mambabatas galing sa political dynasty," he added.

The forum was ongoing as of this posting.

Sought for comment, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said “before we ride on this federalism bandwagon, the public should first be informed of its serious downsides given the Philippine context of the prevalance of political warlordism.” —KBK, GMA News