Nograles tries new tack for Charter change

MANILA, Philippines—House Speaker Prospero Nograles just won’t let it go – Charter change (Cha-cha), that is.

The leader of the House has filed a resolution seeking to lift foreign equity and land ownership limits in the Constitution, a move to test if Congress can amend specific provisions of the Charter without having to go through the more controversial processes.

“We want to find out if this can be done,” he said.

Amending the Constitution through a people’s initiative was turned down by the Supreme Court while constituting Congress into a Constituent Assembly needs the approval of the opposition-dominated Senate. Another route, convening a Constitutional Convention, requires a long process of electing delegates then subjecting their proposed amendments to a plebiscite.

Nograles acknowledged his resolution would not have “the effect of law” even if it gathers the support of majority of the 238-member House of Representatives.

But he said the measure could be used as the basis for a constitutional inquiry before the Supreme Court.

“If the Supreme Court says that Congress can enact laws that in effect would repeal specific provisions of the Constitution, we might be able to avoid this protracted legal and constitutional wrangling on how we can attune the Constitution to the new challenges confronting our country,” he said.

Nograles said his resolution had so far attracted 108 signatories. He said he was gunning for two-thirds of the House membership to support his measure.

The House committee on constitutional amendments has yet to decide whether or not to proceed with hearings on Nograles’ resolution.

Two weeks ago, the committee headed by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega approved a resolution calling for public hearings before its members voted on the matter of constitutional change.

The resolution was recalled the following week. Instead, Nograles proposed that individual congressmen consult their constituents on Charter change.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez rejected Nograles’ proposal and insisted on proceeding with the public hearings.

He accused members of the majority of acting on behalf of Malacañang.

Nograles’ resolution seeks to amend Sections 2 and 3 of Article 12 of the Constitution to allow foreign corporations and associations to fully own land and corporations and engage in the exploitation of the natural resources of the country.

Nograles said his objective is to attract Arab investments to Mindanao.

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