BBM Won't Oppose Concon to Fix Charter Loopholes

President Marcos will not oppose moves to amend the 1987 Constitution if such changes will "improve and clarify" certain provisions, Malacañang said yesterday.

- — With Delon Porcalla, Marc Jayson Cayabyab

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement in response to Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno's call for a constitutional convention to revise the Charter, which he said contains ambiguous and procedurally deficient provisions.

"If this is to improve and clarify so that no provisions in the Constitution will be questioned, the President will not object to it," Castro said during a press briefing.

In a privileged speech on Monday, Puno cited as an example Article XI, Section 3(4) on the accountability of public officials, which states: "In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed."

"Does the legislature now view the recent interpretation of 'forthwith' as applicable to all similar clauses in the Charter? Can the clear urgency mandated by constitutional language now be indefinitely stalled under the guise of interpretive discretion?" Puno said.