Manila – Just like in the United States, the next president and vice president of the country will be elected as a pair if the proposed “surgical Charter change (Cha-cha)” of a House of Representatives panel gains ground.
House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair Rufus Rodriguez, who is also a representative of the Cagayan de Oro City, said there should be “unanimity and cohesiveness” between the president and vice president so that they can proceed with their party platforms.
“They would not be stepping in the same platform and vision. So therefore, to be able to have a president and vice president that immediately upon election (can) move forward and work hard for the people, there will be a tandem voting,” Rodriguez added.
He said the tandem voting is one of the so-called “surgical amendments” in the still unnumbered resolution that seeks to introduce amendments in the 1987 Constitution.
The panel of Rodriguez had a “closed door” meeting to approve the “Cha-cha” despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pronouncement that it will no longer be a priority in his remaining years in office.
The still unnumbered Resolution of Both Houses specifically seeks to amend Articles 6, 10, 12, 14, and 16 of the current Charter and it will have to be approved by three-fourths of both House of Representatives and the Senate, voting separately.
The measure seeks to lift the economic restrictions of the post-Epifanio de los Santos Avenue charter by adding the phrase “unless, otherwise provided by law” in specific areas of the 1987 Constitution – natural resources, foreign ownership of land, media, education, and advertising.
It also aims to fix the terms of lawmakers to five years – capable of three consecutive re-elections, while the number of senators from 12 will be increased to 27 and will be elected per region with three senators each./PN
