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Efren L. Danao
Manila Times

SENATORS who attended the Council of State meeting Tuesday said the only good thing that came out of the meeting was that everybody was allowed to speak out.

?But nothing substantive came out. It was unwieldy and lacked focus. We could not discuss any single issue at length, so there was no real debate,? said Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

She said President Arroyo did not articulate her stand…

Atty. Rita Linda V. Jimeno
Manila Standard

There seems to be no let-up on the heat against the ?no-el? proposal of ConCom for the scrapping of polls in 2007.

It is field day for the opposition and for all who want to muddle the whole political scenario to avert much-needed change in the form and structure of government. It is also field day for all who want to throw mud at government for their own agenda.

Come to think of it, we have been in a presidential system since the…

Manila Times

THE position being taken by certain members of this Consultative Commission on Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution?s Transitory Provisions, proposing the cancellation of the May 2007 election, will not be accepted by the people.

It could be construed as an attempt to entice our national and local officials to push for the passage of the revised Constitution, in a myopic view that all our officials want only to ensure their political tenure. Such a proposition is not…

Angelo Samonte
Manila Times

Business and labor are for opening up the country?s media, services and utilities to foreign ownership.

The sentiments of the two sectors surfaced at consultations held in Makati City Thursday by the Consultative Commission.

Representatives from business and labor groups said they will allow more laxity regarding foreign ownership of public utilities, except in the transportation sector.

They also wanted foreign players in educational…

Candice Y. Cerezo
Manila Times

The Consultative Commission?s Committee on Transitory Provisions is looking at three major proposals involving the transition from a presidential government to a parliamentary system that gives President Arroyo three options on how to end her term.

Commissioner Romela Bengzon, the committee chair and deputy secretary-general of the 54-member commission, presented the proposed transitory provisions.

One proposes that all incumbent elected…

Joyce Pangco Pañares and Tony Macapagal
Manila Standard

All elected officials, including President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will have to sacrifice the remainder of their terms once the 1987 Constitution is amended and a parliamentary form of government is adopted, the Consultative Commission said in one of their proposals for transitory provisions yesterday.

ConCom deputy secretary general Romela Bengzon, who also chairs the committee on transitory provisions, said three options…

Manila Times

THE addition of three more autonomous regions to the proposed 11 regions is being recommended by the 54-member Consultative Commission, which is studying the revision of the 1987 Constitution.

The additional three regions was suggested following the separation of the Zamboanga Peninsula from Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas from the Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas from Palawan.

Dr. Jose Abueva, ConCom chair, said the commission will also propose…

Fel V. Maragay
Manila Standard

The first batch of 33 members of the 50-member Consultative Commission on Constitutional Reforms was named by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday.

The list includes academicians, business leaders, journalists, leaders of organizations of workers and farmers, religious leaders, leaders of civil society groups, local government officials and retired politicians.

None of them, however, represents the opposition. This was expected because…

Fel V. Maragay and Romie E. Evangelista
Manila Standard

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has seized the initiative to set up a parliamentary-federal system by creating a 50-man Consultative Commission that will propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

The President yesterday signed Executive Order 453 forming the ConCom that will recommend the changes in the fundamental law in consultation with various sectors of society.

The ConCom was given only three-and a-half months…