Pro-administration Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday said the proposal of the House of Representatives for a speedy amendment of the 1987 Constitution faces a brick wall in the Senate, saying the Upper Chamber has more important things to discuss on its agenda — like the 2006 national budget — rather than dance to the music of Charter change (Cha-cha).
During a press briefing, Santiago said she is dismayed by the apparent attempt of the House to "ram the issue down the throats of the senators."
Moreover, she explained that Charter change is not a priority of the Senate, because the chamber is busy with budget deliberations.
"We are not humanoids who can be made to march to the beat of the same drummer," she told reporters.
Moreover, she stressed that the haste in which the House has approved proposals to amend the Constitution, which is still very young at 18, is suspicious. The House of Representatives earlier approved a concurrent resolution calling for the convening of a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution.
She said congressmen are hastily pushing for Cha-cha for "money."
"There is, therefore, an implication that you can just buy the Senate, in cash or in kind," she said.
At the moment, 10 senators expressed reservations on the Cha-cha move. Opposition leader Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. had earlier declared that any discussion on Cha-cha must be considered if President Arroyo resigns.
Other senators, on the other hand, like Senate President Franklin Drilon insist that amending the Charter through a constitutional convention (Concon) is the only acceptable mode in revising the land’s fundamental law.
Defense dep’t submits proposals on Charter change
By RICO C. NAVARRO
The Department of National Defense (DND) has submitted its proposals to the Consultative Commission (Con-Com) on possible amendments to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
In an interview over state-run Radyo ng Bayan, Con-Com Commissioner Jose P. Leviste, chair of the Committee on General Provisions, Amendments and Transitory Provisions and Constitutional Commissions, said one of the key proposals that the representatives from the military raised is the "insulation" of the armed forces from politics.
Leviste said under the submitted proposal, the confirmation requirement should be limited to highranking officials appointed to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to insulate the military from the influence of politicians.
"Officers who are beyond the rank of colonel or navy captain need not pass through the Commission on Appointments (CA). The CA may scrutinize only those who are going to be appointed chief of staff, vice chief of staff, or heads of the different services," Leviste said.
The committee had a recent meeting with representatives from the DND at the Seameo Innotech in Quezon City which included former AFP chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and retired officers Gen. Feliciano Gacis and Comm. Carlos Agustin.
Article VII, Section 16 of the present Constitution states that "the President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this Constitution."
Another proposal is the inclusion of a provision allowing the President to enter into executive agreements such as joint cooperation for short-duration military training exercises, disaster relief operations, with foreign governments "in the interest of national security and welfare."
