Deputy speaker pushes con-con to update ambiguities in Constitution

Metro Manila, Philippines - House Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno is pushing for a constitutional convention (con-con) to update supposed ambiguities in the Constitution.

Puno said the con-con aims to clear the definition of words to avoid disputes, citing the contested “forthwith” in the impeachment trial.

To recall, the House repeatedly urged the Senate to convene as an Impeachment Court and “forthwith” proceed with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The Senate convened four months after the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted from the House.

“Alam n’yo sa mga proseso ng hudikatura, kadalasan may mga specific na period na sinasabi. Magpa-file ka ng kaso, you have to answer within, whatever, seven days, 10 days of the filing,” Puno said in a briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

[Translation: The judicial process usually gives a specific period. When a case is filed, you have to answer within, whatever, seven days, 10 days of the filing.]

“‘Yung forthwith kasi walang araw ‘yun. So, dapat siguro sa mga provisions ng ating Saligang Batas relative to impeachment sa mga darating na panahon, ilagay na natin ‘yung mga period parang katulad ng kahit anong proseso sa husgado,” he said.

[Translation: When you say forthwith, there is no number of days. So, maybe the provisions of the Constitution relative to impeachment should contain the period just like the judicial process.]

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said she is open to Puno’s idea.

“Talaga naman merong ilan-ilan na mga ambiguous na mga provisions sa Constitution. I guess it’s about time na kailangan linawin para hindi nagkakaroon ng problema sa implementation. So, bukas ako diyan, subject to study,” she said in a chance interview.

[Translation: There are really some ambiguous provisions in the Constitution. I guess it’s about time to clear these so we would not have any problem in the implementation. So, I am open to that, subject to study.]

Puno admits gaining support for his proposal would be difficult.

“Ngayon kasi ang mga suliranin natin medyo grabe. Kaya kung may mga mahirap na kailangan gawin, subukan pa rin natin. But to answer you, it's not going to be easy, honestly,” he said.

[Translation: The problems we’re facing now are serious. So, despite the difficulty, let us still try.]

Puno said changing the form of government is excluded in his proposal.

To ease possible concerns, the deputy speaker said limitations may be laid down to avoid changes that are beyond correcting ambiguities.