Ex-Cebu governor urges return to 2-party system
CEBU CITY -– The two-party system must be established in the country, and with this, turncoats should lose their seats.
Commissioner Pablo Garcia of the Presidential Consultative Commission (Concom) said this is among the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
Garcia, a member of the Concom committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview that there’s a need to strengthen political parties in the country.
If the proposal is carried, an elected public official will not be able to switch parties during his term.
“Otherwise, he would forfeit his seat and the party in which he was elected will nominate another,” said Garcia, a former three-term governor of Cebu and congressman.
Such a policy already applies in the party-list system, where an elected lawmaker who decides to leave his party also forfeits his seat in the House of Representatives.
In general, however, switching of political parties is a common practice in the country. A Cebuano official earlier lamented that in our elections, personality and money matter most, while political parties have ceased to have meaning.
Moreover, political parties are invoked only during the election season, as they are not known to come up with a stand on public issues.
Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong supports the proposed amendment.
“I fully agree. This will develop a serious party ideology and the principle for which each party stands. Presently, party membership is a matter of convenience,” Maambong told Sun.Star Cebu.
PB Member Joven Mondigo, for his part, said it’s a valid proposal.
“Not only will it strengthen the two-party system, it will also enhance morality and decent values among political players,” he said.
According to Garcia, the proposal is for the two dominant parties to have representation in the board of election inspectors (BEI), as well as in the board of canvassers.
Garcia further disclosed that representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) appeared before their committee in a meeting.
During the meeting, Comelec officials expressed a suggestion for them to be stripped of judicial power or jurisdiction to settle election protests.
The different committees of the Concom have conducted public hearings in various areas of the country.
They will present to the plenary on Dec. 5 the different constitutional amendments that they will propose.
The Concom, which President Arroyo created after she called for a constitutional change amid allegations of electoral fraud, will cease to exist after Dec. 15.
Foremost among the proposals is the shift to a parliamentary system of government.
Although there’s a clamor for federalism to give more autonomy to the local governments, Garcia said he wants measures for a strong central government.
“We are an archipelagic country. It’s very difficult to unite us and if buakun ta, musamot,” he said.
Until now, he added, Concom members have yet to thresh out the issue on what will happen to existing officials of the country once the shift to the parliamentary system will start. (JPM/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
Commissioner Pablo Garcia of the Presidential Consultative Commission (Concom) said this is among the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
Garcia, a member of the Concom committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview that there’s a need to strengthen political parties in the country.
If the proposal is carried, an elected public official will not be able to switch parties during his term.
“Otherwise, he would forfeit his seat and the party in which he was elected will nominate another,” said Garcia, a former three-term governor of Cebu and congressman.
Such a policy already applies in the party-list system, where an elected lawmaker who decides to leave his party also forfeits his seat in the House of Representatives.
In general, however, switching of political parties is a common practice in the country. A Cebuano official earlier lamented that in our elections, personality and money matter most, while political parties have ceased to have meaning.
Moreover, political parties are invoked only during the election season, as they are not known to come up with a stand on public issues.
Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong supports the proposed amendment.
“I fully agree. This will develop a serious party ideology and the principle for which each party stands. Presently, party membership is a matter of convenience,” Maambong told Sun.Star Cebu.
PB Member Joven Mondigo, for his part, said it’s a valid proposal.
“Not only will it strengthen the two-party system, it will also enhance morality and decent values among political players,” he said.
According to Garcia, the proposal is for the two dominant parties to have representation in the board of election inspectors (BEI), as well as in the board of canvassers.
Garcia further disclosed that representatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) appeared before their committee in a meeting.
During the meeting, Comelec officials expressed a suggestion for them to be stripped of judicial power or jurisdiction to settle election protests.
The different committees of the Concom have conducted public hearings in various areas of the country.
They will present to the plenary on Dec. 5 the different constitutional amendments that they will propose.
The Concom, which President Arroyo created after she called for a constitutional change amid allegations of electoral fraud, will cease to exist after Dec. 15.
Foremost among the proposals is the shift to a parliamentary system of government.
Although there’s a clamor for federalism to give more autonomy to the local governments, Garcia said he wants measures for a strong central government.
“We are an archipelagic country. It’s very difficult to unite us and if buakun ta, musamot,” he said.
Until now, he added, Concom members have yet to thresh out the issue on what will happen to existing officials of the country once the shift to the parliamentary system will start. (JPM/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
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