MALACAÑANG on Friday, August 3, expressed confidence that the current administration would be able to prod the Senate to back President Rodrigo Duterte's proposed new constitution that would pave the way for a federal government.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said there would be "ways and means" to convince the senators that the planned amendments to the 1987 Constitution will be "meritorious" for the country.
"Well, I think, there are ways and means of convincing the Senate. We prefer to deal with the merits of the proposal to amend the Constitution towards a federal form of government. And we will pursue that course of action," he said in an interview in Bukidnon.
"I think there's no alternative to convincing them by showing them the merits of the proposed amendments. And we are confident that after giving them thorough picture of why we think charter change is meritorious, that many of the senators will agree with the President on this matter," he added.
On Thursday, August 3, Senator Panfilo Lacson believed that the proposed federal constitution crafted by the 22-man Constitutional Commission (Con-Com) will only be "cremated" at the Senate.
The Con-Com had already transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the draft federal charter.
Under the proposed federal constitution, there will be 18 federated regions, four Supreme Courts, and six constitutional commissions.
The proposed federal charter being pushed by the Duterte government aims to promote equal distribution of resources among the regions.
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, chair of the Con-Com, had said that the draft charter will allow the proposed federal government and federal regions to govern the people "less in competition but more in cooperation."
Roque was hopeful that senators would be enlightened about the proposed new charter, just like what happened about the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) 2 Law.
Senators were initially apprehensive about the tax reform package, but Senate President Vicente Sotto III eventually filed Thursday, August 2, the Senate version of the second package of government's tax reform program.
"Take note that initially, there was no senator [who] wanted to sponsor Train 2. But after a thorough explanation..., no less than the Senate President later on agreed to sponsor Train 2," he said.
"We expect similar development as far as charter change is concerned," Roque added. (VoxPop Philippines)
