GORDON: LET THE PEOPLE OWN THE CONSTITUTION

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, said that the people should be part of amending the Constitution as he stressed that Charter change should be done after the 2010 elections.

"Let us not amend the Constitution before 2010. The best time to have the Constitution amended is after the 2010 elections, when the people have decided on the matter. Until now a lot of people do not fully understand what the Constitution is all about. The people should take part in amending the Charter. It should be a Constitution of the people and not a Constitution of the president. Let the people own the Constitution," Gordon said.

Gordon explained that we should change the way the Constitution is revised. During the terms of previous presidents Manuel Quezon, Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, the Charter was rewritten but it was not fully understood by the people because they were not consulted on how they would want to have the Constitution written.

Gordon, who is at the forefront of change, said the issue of amending the Constitution should be decided by the people on the 2010 elections. It must be clear what the people want to revise in the Constitution.

He also said that the voting populace should know that they are voting for senators and congressmen who may be changing the Constitution. Those running for the presidency should have a clear stand on Chacha. With that, the people can make better decisions on who they want to represent them in amending the Charter.

"I have always stated my position on the issue. I am for Constitutional change. I am for a federal system of government. But now is not the right time to make these changes," Gordon said.

"No Chacha until the people learn how to dance with it," Gordon stressed.