Dead in the water

“So why can’t the ConCom members take criticism—and with solid basis at that?

Consultative Committee (ConCom) member and San Beda Graduate School of Law dean, Father Ranhilio Aquino, flew into a seeming rage last week over the opposing stance of Finance and Economic chiefs on the issue of the Federalism shift.

Hearing Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez debunk the draft federal constitution that, to the finance and economic managers, would bring financial ruin to the country, the San Beda Law dean called on President Duterte to fire Dominquez and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia over their negative statements on the proposed shift to Federalism.

Aquino was quoted as saying that if Duterte favors Federalism, let him sack Dominguez and Pernia or command them to keep their traps shut. Freedom of expression does not apply to Cabinet officials in respect to policy, Aquino sermonized.

Aquino is wrong and he should, at the very least, apologize for his recent behavior.

First off, Aquino is wrong to claim that the Federalism shift is a presidential policy and that none of his Cabinet members enjoys the freedom of expression because the Federalism shift is not policy, apart from the fact that it will not be Duterte who has the last say on Federalism taking over the present form and system of government. Neither, for that matter, does Congress—both the House and the Senate—have the last say. If a draft federal charter ever hits the plebiscite stage, it will be the Filipino people who will have the last say—unless of course, the cheating machine and the Comelec cheating syndicate will again take the place of the people’s will, as they usually do.

But it must be asked why some ConCom members are too sensitive to even take criticisms over their draft charter—and especially on the financial aspect. Do they think of themselves as infallible and experts in the Constitution?

Any near moron in financial matters can gauge for himself that the country cannot afford to shift to Federalism as it costs too much since half of the country’s budget would go to the 13-16 “states,” apart from five percent of the budget going to the inexperienced Moro fighters for their leaders to reign over the Bangsamoro “state.”

“Aquino is wrong to claim that the federalism shift is a presidential policy.

So how can a federal government operate with a 50 percent budget slash? How does it pay the trillions owed by the Philippines to its international creditors that will squeeze the country dry for payments and with sanctions imposed?

Dominguez is correct. The country will go to hell.

So why can’t the ConCom members take criticism—and with solid basis at that? Why are they so sensitive over any criticism of their ConCom draft, to the point of demanding censorship to be applied and not only on Cabinet officials with opposing views on their draft federal charter, done in seriousness or in fun? Why do they insist on clamping the mouths of the Federalism critics?

These “constitutionalists” aren’t even elected by the Filipino people to draft a charter, yet they seem to believe that they have all the power to silence the critics and anybody who goes against that which they had written by way of a draft federal charter or even those who make fun of the ConCom draft in social media.

At this time, arguing over the Federalism shift is a useless effort for the ConCom members and officials mainly because their draft charter will not come about since there is really no time left for both Houses of Congress to come up with a measure to convene itself into a constituent assembly (con-ass) in tackling the draft charter, apart from the fact that most Filipinos are unaware of the Federalism shift and for those who are aware of this proposed shift, rejecting the shift is clear in the surveys.

There is no hope for the 17th Congress to come up with a legislative measure for it to constitute itself as a body to vote on the ConCom’s draft.

It is no secret that even as the House pushes for the passage of the ComCom draft, the Senate certainly is not in a mood to cooperate in constituting itself as a constituent body, even on separate voting and not even President Duterte can force through the issue of approving the ConCom draft charter—at least in the Senate.

The House, which has been pushing Charter change through the con-ass and apparently adapting in full the ConCom draft charter, will not get to first base with the Senate that is against it, apart from which there really is no time at all to even bother with changing the Constitution, flawed as it is, since matters related to elections are fast approaching, with reelectionists and other politicians starting their campaign unofficially.

Like it or not, ConCom officials and members should give up their quest for changing the Charter to bring about a Federalism-parliamentary shift.