Nanindigan si Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers na ngayon ang pinakatamang panahon para amyendahan ang Saligang Batas ng bansa.
Ito ay bilang suporta sa panawagan ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez na simulan na ang pagtalakay sa Cha-Cha sa susunod na taon para repasuhin ang mahigpit na economic provisions ng 1987 constitution.
Punto ng mambabatas na kahit magpasa ng libu-libong economic laws ang Kongreso na salungat sa Konstitusyon ay wala pa ring pagbabago dahil kukuwestyunin din ang mga ito sa Korte Suprema.
“Passing laws in the hope of curing the flaws of the Charter is an admission of the need to amend it. Even if Congress pass thousands of economic laws in contravention of the Constitution, nothing will change. They will be questioned before the Supreme Court. It is a waste of valuable resources. It is an admission that the Charter has failed us economically, politically and socially. What are we waiting for, to be at the bottom of the ladder?,” giit ni Barbers.
Sabi pa ng mambabatas na parang sirang plaka na lang ang paulit-ulit na argumento na premature o hindi kailangan ng amyenda sa Konstitusyon na una nang pinalutang noong 1995 ni dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos para mas makatugon ito sa economic needs ng bansa.
Mahalaga aniya ang pag-repaso sa Saligang Batas upang mas makalapit ang Pilipinas sa tinatamasang development o pag-unlad ng mga kalapit bansa natin.
“A review is very much consistent with the good intent of improving our political, economic and social systems should we find them lacking, so that we can bring the country closer to our neighbors in terms of development. Ang dami ngang provisions which were inadvertently left unedited like the structure of the Legislature, unicameral or bi-cameral kaya may conflicting provisions. This is the proof that it was passed in haste thus we need to correct to give it consistency. The knee-jerk reaction is unfair and uncalled for. Wala pa nga tayong inuumpisahan eh babarilin na agad. Let the free market of ideas prevail and intelligent discussions flourish – all for the good of the people – both now and the years to come,” sabi pa ng kongresista.
Paalala pa nito na anumang amyenda ay idadaan sa plebisito at taumbayan mismo ang magdedesisyon kaya’t hindi dapat magpadala sa paranoia o takot ang mga tumututol dito.
“Most importantly, we must remember that any and all proposed amendments from Congressmen, Senators and the people through people’s initiative will still have to be approved by the people in a plebiscite. So the paranoia of some quarters that the proposed amendments are self serving are totally baseless. Let us disabuse our minds from these fears and respect the people’s will that will be reflected in the plebiscite instead of fanning the flames of fear mongering”, ani Barbers. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
