Press Release
December 2, 2008

Gordon favors Con-Ass to change Charter after May 2010

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today belied reports that he is in favor of a constitutional convention as the mode of introducing amendments to or revisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, maintained that it is not time yet for moves to amend the Constitution.

"I have never expressed preference for constituent assembly, nor to have its members elected during the May 2010 presidential elections. Now is not the time because amending the Constitution will only divide the nation," he said.

"I have always expressed belief that the time to take steps to start Charter Change rolling is after the May 2010 elections. Cha-cha at present is ill-timed when our people are hard-pressed with the skyrocketing prices of commodities and the effects of the global financial crisis," he added.

The senator said what he wants is to have the issue of Charter change discussed in presidential debates during the campaign for the May 2010 presidential elections.

"What I want is for Charter change to become an issue that will be discussed in presidential debates. This way the people will be informed on what the proposed amendments to the constitution will be and what is the position of each candidate about the issue," he said.

Gordon said he prefers to amend the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly, with Congress converting into a Constituent Assembly, which would be less expensive than a Constitutional Convention.

He further explained that in a Con-Ass, amendments to the Constitution can be introduced by piece-meal approach, where only some provisions at a time will be amended.

"Besides, in a Con-ass, the people can be part of the process of changing the Constitution. The people should be involved because the people own the Constitution. The process of a constitutional convention does not involve the people," he added.

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