Senator says colleagues open to amending economic provisions of 1987 Charter

SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson on Thursday said senators may push for Charter change only if economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution are only amended in order to bring in more foreign investments in the country.
He said the present Charter was “too nationalistic to a fault” that it became overprotective following the “long years of dictatorship.”
“You can just imagine the world has become very small because restrictions on foreign investments still exist, whereas China really opened up to the world market. But why are we still constrained by the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. We could not open up in order to encourage foreign investors,” Mr. Lacson said at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
Despite the statement of House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo on pushing for a separate voting when Congress convenes as constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Charter, Mr. Lacson warned this is not guaranteed.
“But by the time we adopt the joint resolution and entered the joint session, we allow ourselves to compose the joint session with the Lower House, anything can happen,” he said.
Otherwise, the proposed Charter change or shift to federalism is “just waiting to be cremated” due to lack of support among senators, Mr. Lacson said.
“Right now, as far as the Senate is concerned, the proposed Charter change is just waiting to be cremated,” the senator said.
In response, Consultative Committee (ConCom) spokesperson Conrado I. Generoso told reporters in a text message: “From the ashes, the Phoenix rises. You cannot kill an idea whose time has come.” — Camille A. Aguinaldo