I’ve been very vocal on social media against efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, primarily because I believe the amendments being sought after – such as economic provisions – will not benefit the country as a whole.
In fact, the recent revelations about Chinese nationals allegedly being able to procure fake birth certificates and other documents to pass off as Filipinos have only served to strengthen my opposition to proposals to allow 100-percent foreign ownership of Filipino businesses and utilities.
Way back in 2015, as far as I recall, OpinYon released this front-page story about how Mainland China has been systemically creeping into our sovereignty not just through military action but through the control of various vital installations such as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
My boss, Mr. Ray Junia, had expressed his alarm at the fact that a foreign-led corporation has control over our country’s entire electric grid – and a corporation hailing from a country that has proved to be more hostile to us in past months.
I could still remember his words on the subject (though not verbatim): “Imagine that – paano kung giyerahin talaga tayo ng China? They have the power to switch off our entire electricity grid if they want to.”
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If there are provisions in the 1987 Constitution that should be amended (and, may I point out, parts that pro-Charter Change seemed to want to avoid any discussion at all), it’s the part on the qualifications of public officials.
One of these provisions concerning local officials is that those running for local positions (such as city or municipal mayor, town councilor, representatives) had to be a resident for at least a year of the town or city where he or she will run for public office.
I’m sure the 1987 Constitution framers who had inserted that clause has a good reason for putting such qualifications in place: to avoid the trend of traditional politicians who would, like a butterfly, flit from place to place to prolong their stay in power, as well as give equal opportunities for all residents, not just for long-time political dynasties.
Yet we all know that traditional politicians have become “tuso” and found a way to circumvent that provision.
Heck, remember that candidate for congressman of a progressive city here in Laguna province who we all know wasn’t really a native of that city at all?
Rumors about his political plans, to recall, had begun to swirl about when all of a sudden, a year or so before the elections, this politician purchased a house inside this progressive city.
Then came the filing of certificates of candidacy, and lo and behold, this guy stood as a candidate for congressman of this city, although everyone knows he wasn’t a native of that city at all. (Clue: he lost.)
And what about the case of now suspended (and wanted) Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who “suddenly appeared out of nowhere” during the 2022 polls and was apparently elected simply because of the endorsement of the outgoing incumbent?
If these pro-Charter Change guys are serious in changing our country’s socio-political landscape, they should focus on plugging the leaks that have enabled traditional politicians and spurious “citizens” from gaining – and holding – public office.
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