Lagman, Monsod need not worry re Con-ass

Lawyer Christian Monsod, former chair of the Commission on Elections and one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, and independent Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay are among the vocal critics of the constituent assembly (Con-ass) mode of amending the Constitution.

Monsod thinks that legislators belonging to political dynasties might change the Constitution for their own greater benefit rather than for the benefit of our less-privileged countrymen.

Lagman, on the other hand, wants a constitutional convention (Con-con) in lieu of a Con-ass so that the members of our 17th Congress can focus on their job as lawmakers rather than be burdened by another awesome task—amending the Constitution.

Monsod believes only in the Con-con way probably because it was a Con-con that crafted the present Constitution, of which he was a member. But his fear of a Con-ass is unfounded because that mode of changing the primary law of the land is untried. Is he forgetting that he and his fellow Con-con delegates failed to come up with the proper word and phrasing to ban political dynasties and this has resulted in the perpetuation of these families, to cite one example of the past Con-con’s many mistakes? Well, President Duterte is out to correct those mistakes via a Con-ass.

There is nothing sinister about the President’s choice of the Con-ass. He just wants to save money for the sake of his fellow countrymen. So Monsod should feel assured that government can subsidize his PhilHealth benefits and his SSS or GSIS pension.

As for Representative Lagman, his political career is as old as the Constitution. He and his children have been alternately representing their province’s first district since 1987. I don’t think Lagman hates the job, otherwise his family wouldn’t be holding it for that long. So, why would he complain now of the added workload of revising the Constitution? He is a lawmaker and it is his job more than anybody else’s.

Lagman may be worried about losing the opportunity to have a say on which projects may be funded by taxpayer money. Haven’t he thought that Duterte is doing him a favor by introducing federalism? Under a federal system of government, Bicol can have its own Congress, which he can have for himself by being its head for as long as he likes—that is, if his fellow Bicolanos will have it that way.

Monsod and Lagman should be happy about Duterte’s decision to choose Con-ass because they stand to benefit from its outcome.

—DEAN JONES CRUZ, [email protected]