Charter change? Insert this

Herbie Gomez

SINCE the Duterte administration seems bent on amending or throwing away the 1987 Constitution and replacing it with a new one, it might as well do it right.

First, it should seriously consider removing any reference to superstition which is defined as any irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear so that our fundamental laws would not be influenced or worse, anchored on unfounded assertions.

Of course, a new constitution should be tolerant of superstition and allow people to freely believe anything they want but in no way should our laws and court decisions be influenced by such. By making it secular, we will have a constitution that’s “neutral” and friendly to all law-abiding citizens regardless of their superstition and deities, that will truly separate Church and State, and that will have no fear or bias toward religious affiliations that are aplenty and diverse, including the secular groups.

Secondly, a new constitution should crush political dynasties for good and prevent any from being established be it in the local or national levels. It should leave no room for many interpretations, and really prevent political families from circumventing the law. Let us mean what we say. If we reject it, then let’s be clear about the rejection.

There are over 100 million Filipinos, many of whom are more than qualified to run the government. We cannot allow government control to be in the hands of a few people or families forever and ever, ’til kingdom come. Look, they not only made government their bread and butter but also their milking cow. Worse, it has already reached a point when members of these political dynasties actually think that to be in public office is their birthright.

It would be good, too, if they would review the reelection rule. From Aparri to Jolo, career politicians don’t get things done because they are thinking of reelection votes. First, politics should cease to be a lifetime career. Secondly, we have to stop elected officials from thinking about reelection on their first day in public office.

Those who would re-write the Constitution and approve it can also show their sincerity and prove that they are not out to perpetuate themselves in power by inserting a clause that reads like this: “None of those who took part in writing and ratifying this Constitution, including their spouses, first-degree relatives and in-laws, may be elected or appointed to government within the first decade from the day of its ratification.”

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I asked to be counted in as one of the signatories to the statement “Against New Fascism: Southern Writers On Press Freedom” posted on Payag Habagatan, an online literary home for emerging voices in poetry, fiction, essay, and drama in English and in Binisaya from Mindanao.

It reads: “Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the registration of Rappler, a media outlet that dares speak against the atrocities of the Duterte regime. In the guise of citing the ‘unconstitutionality’ of Rappler’s issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs)—which are legal financial instruments likewise issued by other media companies—fascist enablers seek to silence those who criticize Duterte and his policies, further upholding political hegemony.

“Mass media stands as a crucial tool in shaping the cultural sphere of the world we live in. Public information is imparted by the press, whose reliability and conviction emanate from its independence from the economic and political interests of the State.

“When free speech is curtailed by the political institutions that fail to recognize our fundamental human rights, the blatant abuse of power goes unchecked, further paralyzing an already problematic system of justice. When free speech is repressed, our collective potential to upend corruption, injustice, and fascism is extinguished.

“Let us all stand as one: when freedom falls to tyranny, when truth is twisted to be a tool for political hegemony, when democracy crumbles under complicity, this is the time to speak truth to power. This is the time to unite against the subversion of the common good.

“To dispel the notion that all writers from the South, particularly Mindanao, support the Duterte regime, we, the undersigned writers from the southern Philippines, encourage everyone to rally against those who seek to impede the pursuit of truth and justice.”

This can be found on https://payaghabagatan.ph/against-new-fascism/ .