President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is open to supporting the establishment of a constitutional convention (Con-Con) if its goal is to clarify and strengthen ambiguous provisions in the 1987 Constitution, Malacañang said Tuesday.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President would not oppose a move that aims to eliminate legal gray areas that may lead to the misuse or misinterpretation of constitutional provisions.
“Kung ito naman po ay ikagaganda at ikaliliwanag para hindi na mabutasan ang anumang probisyon dito sa Constitution, hindi naman po ito tututulan ng Pangulo (If this is to enhance and clarify so that no provision in the Constitution is violated, the President will not oppose it),” Castro told reporters.
On Monday, Deputy Speaker and National Unity Party chairperson Ronaldo Puno renewed calls for a Con-Con to undertake a comprehensive review of the Constitution.
Puno stressed the need to “complete and correct” the charter, not discard it, and argued that a Con-Con would ensure a “singularity of purpose” in introducing necessary reforms.
While Malacañang has yet to adopt a definitive stance on the proposal, Castro confirmed that the Palace is closely monitoring the development and awaits a full proposal.
“May mga pagkakataon lamang po sigurong kahit maliwanag ang ibang mga definition or mga term ay minsan napapalabo para merong mapaboran (There are probably instances when even clear definitions or terms are blurred to favor someone),” Castro noted.
She added that revisiting the charter through a Con-Con would provide an opportunity to better understand the original intent of the Constitution’s framers.
A Con-Con is one of three legal avenues to amend the Constitution.
Under this method, delegates elected by the public from each legislative district are tasked with reviewing and recommending constitutional changes. The other two methods are through a constituent assembly — where Congress itself proposes amendments — and a people’s initiative, which requires a nationwide petition.
Calls for constitutional reform have long sparked debate in the Philippines, with proponents arguing that outdated or vague provisions hinder governance and development, while critics often warn against potential abuses of the process.