Ex-IBP chief Cayosa says economic provisions should come first in proposed Cha-cha

The former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Wednesday said economic provisions should be prioritized instead of term extensions in the proposed amendment to the 1987 Constitution.

In a radio interview, law expert Domingo Cayosa said it is unfortunate if term extensions would be prioritized as it would seem to be “political” and “self-serving.”

“Ngayon, ito namang termino, kasama rin ‘yan, ‘di ba. But what is unfortunate lang kung ‘yan ang uunahin, siyempre isang katutak na batikos ‘yan kasi para bang political agenda lang, self serving,” Cayosa said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The terms of officials are included. But what is unfortunate if it will be prioritized. It will receive a lot of criticism because it would seem like a political agenda, self-serving.)

“Baka puwedeng unahin muna natin ‘yung economic provision, ‘yung passability principle, ‘yung mga transparency, ‘yung mga efficiency provisions. At ihuli na natin ‘yung political,” he added.

(Maybe they can prioritize the economic provision, the passability principle, transparency, and the efficiency provisions. And we can put the political on the back burner.)

Last week, a resolution was filed at the House of Representatives which seeks to cut the terms of the president and vice president to five years but allows them to seek reelection.

Currently, a president can only serve for one term of six years without reelection.

But Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., the author of the resolution, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte will not benefit from this should it passes Congress.

Gonzales said the measure will take effect in 2025 should it be passed in the 19th Congress.

“Nasa midterm ang ating Pangulo at ating Vice-President. Sa palagay ko di na sila puwede tumakbo dito,” Gonzales said.

‘Inconsistent provisions’

In the same radio interview, Cayosa said there are inconsistent provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

“Personally, ‘yung ating Constitution, napagaralan na ho namin ‘yan, matagal tagal na rin ‘yan, at meron talagang mga provision na inconsistent, may mga gaps, may mga hindi malinaw,” Cayosa said.

(Personally, I have studied our Constitution and there are inconsistencies, gaps, and there are things that are not clear.)

“Kaya nga hindi umuusad yung mga policy directors na ‘yan. So kailangan ayusin din ‘yan. At base sa ibang Constitution na maayos na gobyerno at bansa, marami tayong mapupulot na best practices na maaring idagdag,” he added.

(That's why there's no progress with our policy directors. So we need to fix that. And based on the Constitutions of other governments and countries, we can pick up a lot of their best practices.)

He cited the civil service in the country, where you can be appointed as long as you meet the minimum requirement.

“Kahit pang 99 ka sa ranking, pag ikaw malakas sa appointing power, puwede ka ilagay. Sa ibang bansa, halimbawa Singapore, magra-ranking at yung appointing power pipiliin lang siya doon sa top three,” he said.

(Even if you are at 99 in the rankings, if you have a link to the appointing power, you can be appointed. In other countries, for example, Singapore, the appointing power will just pick from the top three.) — RSJ, GMA News