Before I start to argue on why I am saying yes to Con-Ass and Cha-cha let us have some definition of terms first so that other people will understand what we are talking about.
Con-ass is short for Constituent Assembly. Cha-Cha on the other hand stands for charter change.
Aside from the Katrina Halili, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Vicki Belo, Maricar Reyes, Hayden Kho video scandal, one burning issue that consistently hounds the Arroyo administration is the issue of Charter Change. Charter change refers to amendments or revisions to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
There are three ways of amending the 1987 Philippine constitution and it is outlined in the Constitution itself more specifically in Article XVII Sections 1 and 2. Those three are as follows:
1.) By way of a Constitutional Assembly (Con-Ass) (Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members)
2.) By a Constitutional convention (Con-Con)
3.) People’s Initiative
With all the negative sentiments raised all over the blogsphere, you might ask why I am saying yes to Con-Ass and Cha-Cha.
Well first of all with regards to Cha-Cha, I always believe that implementing changes is good, especially if the change is for the better and that it is attuned with the times. Even the United States Constitution had 27 amendments ever since it was promulgated in 1787 the latest amendment being done on May of 1992. One important amendment I believe should be included in the Constitution is to reduce the number of law makers as there are too many of them and maintaining them is expensive. Another amendment that I propose is the provision against political dynasties. There are other amendments I would like to propose however that will be made subject of another post.
I am also saying yes to Con-Ass because among the three, Con-Ass is the quickest and most cost effective way of amending or revising the Constitution. Calling a Constitutional Convention would be costly and time consuming. Besides, believe it or not we still have some intelligent people in Congress who have the brains to come up with useful amendments to the Constitution. A people’s initiative would be out of the question besides it being impractical and costly as until now no implementing law has been passed by Congress for the exercise of such right.
These are my two cents on why I am saying yes to both Con-Ass and Cha-Cha. Sadly the public is misled as to the real meaning of Con-Ass and Cha-Cha. Con-Ass and Cha-Cha are often equated to the term extension of President Arroyo. May the public know that Con-Ass and Cha-Cha are not solely for the term extensions of President Arroyo. A Cha-Cha is good if changes are for the better and I believe the best way to implement it is through a Con-Ass.
However I am saying yes to Cha-Cha only after the 2010 elections and I believe Congress should also do the same. Having a Cha-Cha right now would lead to political unrest because of the misunderstanding that the president is trying to get an extension of her term. Because of that I am saying no to the Con-Ass that Congress is trying to implement now. If our incumbent lawmakers will really insist on charter change right now, I’d be better off packing my bags and contacting some moving companies Los Angeles. I hope you in Congress will consider what the people are saying and let your Con-Ass move to the beat of the Cha-Cha after the elections.
check the cbs forums sir nay 2 activities ang CBS asto a meet w/ mar roxas and a facebook eyeball for “no to ConAss”…
iggy: I try to attend that, that sounds exciting 🙂
nice article sir. I like how you used the keywords for your katrina halili post. Thanks!
Patrick: Thanks for the compliment.
I agree with you Mr. Diaz, but the problem still the corruption issue with our government – even if Con-Ass or ChaCha will happen after the election.
Gerune: Well the big C has always been the problem. But I believe if we change some provisions in the Consitutions it will somehow help in the solution of Corruption problems. I know it is a chicken and egg question (i.e: Do we need to change the people or the system of government) But I believe the solution lies in both.
ang masasabi ko lang NO NO NO NO NO to CON-ASS
pansarili lang nila iniisip nila
nakaattend po ko dito sa makati last nung rally…daming tao eh
Chris: O nga eh nakita ko sa news dami ngang tao kung dagdagan iyong nang ilang libo pa people power na 🙂
no to con-ass no to cha cha
a lot of people has been misled by wrong interpretations and understanding on con-ass and chacha but i can’t blame them. there are a few wrong prominent people in the senate and congress who does that. i pity those who have been blinded by it’s real meaning…
con-ass has been a hot issue today…think there’s no need to change our constitution it has always been good the prob there is its implementation by the people sitting in the position
ANG DAMING SUMISIGAW NG “NO TO CON-ASS!” PERO KARAMIHAN HINDI NAMAN LUBUSANG NAIINTINDIHAN ANG SINISIGAW NILA…
HAYYYYZZZZ….
GUYZ KUNG PAG-AARALAN TALAGA NATENG MABUTI, YUNG PROVISION NA SINISIKAP BAGUHIN NG CONGRESS AY I THINK THE BEST FOR OUR ECONOMY…
HINDI NAMAN PAGPAPALAWIG NG TERMINO NI ARROYO ANG ITINUTULAK NG CHA-CHA EH!
…………
60% OF FILIPINOS AY TUTOL SA CHHA-CHA NGUNIT KARAMIHAN SA KANILA HINDI ALAM ANG CHA-CHA….
kailangan talaga ng pagbabago.. kac di naman umuunlad kapag maraming corrupt na mambabatas.. at least kunti nalang diba..!!! di pa magastos..
tama si SONNY!!! hindi nila alam kung ano ang real meaning of cha-cha ang alam lang nila ay mapapalawig nito ang termino ni arroyo….kailangan ng pagbabago!!!!
it’s not that people don’t understand con-ass or cha-cha,hindi naman pwede na kelangan mgpalit tayo ng constitution dahil we need change yon nalang ba ang last resort para mabago ang pilipinas?
Tell us, Mr. Sparkle, what other things can you suggest to change the Philippines as you said?
And I bet, NAGAWA na ng Pilipinas ang kanilang makakaya, dont you watch the news? Tayong mga Pilipino at ang Gobyerno ay pinipilit na mabago ang Pilipinas.
Para itong basketball, na walang technical foul.
Oo, iniimplement ng mga referee ang mga personal fouls pag nakikita, pinipituhan ang mga players na may sala.
Pero pag hindi napipituhan ang mga technical foul, nagkakabastusan na lang sa laro.
Masasabi ba natin na hindi ginagawa ng referee ang kanyang trabaho? Ano ang solusyon dito?
I’ll tell you what.
Baguhin ang rules, at lagyan ng penalty ang technical foul.
Baguhin ang konstitusyon, para sa ikauunlad LALO ng ekonomiya.