Malacañang is not keen on taking the Charter change (Cha-cha) route proposed by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno to pave the way for the envisioned Bangsamoro region.
“The President reminded the negotiators in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that everything should be done within the flexibilities of the Constitution,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. “We strongly believe that the BBL was drafted within those flexibilities and it is, therefore, to our mind, constitutional. Certainly, people will be asking or may question it but we are very firm in our belief that we can defend (it) in whatever forum.”
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno recently pushed for the convening of a Constitutional Convention (Concon) to introduce changes in the Constitution. The BBL, in its present draft form, can only be implemented through federal-parliamentary form of government that requires Charter change, he said.
“We are limited by the boundaries of power set in the 1987 Constitution. The powers in the Constitution are centralized in the national government,” Puno said as he launched a movement called “Bagong System, Bagong Pag-asa.”
The former Chief Justice said members of the Concon may be elected during the 2016 elections.
MANILA BULLETIN
