Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Philippines Amendments

Finally recognizing the failures of the EDSA constitutional system

For the first time, Congress (Senate and House), Civil Society and the Church have agreed that it is now opportune to amend the 1987 Constitution now. This I call the EDSA Constitutional system for it was born of a revolt on a highway and its creation announced on a military parade ground a stone's throw from that highway.  I was witness to both events.  The main reason why all agree to amend it is that the incumbent Chief Executive is simply not interested in prolonging his stay in the Palace. But the President is nor thrilled about the whole enterprise which is puzzling since his problems in reforming governance is really stymied by how the Constitution is interpreted and applied. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno in his address to the University of the Philippines upon his receiving the Dr of Laws degree says that Philippine democracy is in a "stretcher". I don't think it is in a stretcher yet but I think Philippine democracy has an autoimmune di