“Why exclude political reforms?” — Sec. Larry Gadon

DESPITE his present position as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation (PAPA) and a key member of the Marcos administration, Sec. Lorenzo ‘Larry’ Gadon continues to make wave, this time urging both chambers of Congress to also consider tinkering the political provisions of the 1987 Constitution and the repeal of RA 9136 or the ‘EPIRA Law’ that privatized the country’s energy sector.

In his proposal received by the House of Representatives and the Senate last April 2, 2024, Gadon called on House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, to also table “changes” in the Constitution’s political provisions, instead of the ongoing plan to amend the Constitution focused on the economic provisions alone.

“Certain political provisions have proven to be costly and redundant, and amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for the people,” Gadon opined.

Among others, Gadon proposed that the term of office of members of Congress and local officials– governors, vice governors, board members, mayors, vice mayors and councilors be extended to 6 years with only a single reelection.

“Is there a scientific explanation why the term of the senators are 6 years while the congressmen, governors and mayors are for 3 years only? It should be noted that (they) are in reality the ones directly involved in governance,” Gadon said, adding:

“I cannot find any cogent, logical, relevant, substantive and scientific reason for the term of senators (at) years while the rest are for 3 years (as) they are all public servants. Why the discrimination?

Gadon added that in his view, the current 6-year term of the President, Vice President, and members of the Senate should be sufficient as he also called for the doubling of the members of the Upper Chamber from the current 24 to 48, so that “each senator can actively participate in discussions, promoting better governance practices.”

Gadon said if approved, the changes he proposed should take effect after the 2028 elections.

Money better put to good use

The day Gardon formalized his proposal, criticisms were not long in coming with Cagayan de Oro congressman and House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chair, Rufus Rodriguez, calling on Romualdez to simply “ignore” Gadon’s proposal and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, claiming the entire effort to amend the charter should be stopped if Gadon’s proposals are entertained.

He echoed Rodriguez’s stand that tinkering with the Constitution should solely focus on its economic provisions.

Zubiri also seconded Gatchalian’s view that adding political amendments to the already contentious subject of amending the charter’s economic provisions might be rejected by majority of Filipinos.

But Gadon stressed that that there is no “hard and fast rule” that should constrain the lawmakers from strictly focusing on the Constitution’s economic provisions alone.

In his estimate, the country spends an average of P10 billion every 3-years election cycle, an amount that, he noted, can be put to better use.

“P10 billion, can build can build 50,000 houses for the poor; P10 billion can be used (to build)

thousands of school rooms and facilities which will help educate our children and uplift them from poverty.

P10 billion can build bridges and other infrastructures that could propel economic development that could help alleviate poverty among the poor… it can build 50 provincial hospitals and assist patients of “catastrophic” and “money draining illnesses” like cancer, he added.

Brushing away criticisms that he should just instead focus on his job at easing poverty, Gadon stressed that the P10 billion the country spends every 3 years for an election can be used to “give out loans for micro, small and medium enterprises, create jobs and thus help the poor from being stuck in poverty.”

Gadon also chided his critics, believing they have not even read and studied his proposal but are quick to shoot it down.

“I am not bothered by the insulting statement of Cong Rufus as I am already used to his fiery manner in looking at things.

“He was also critical and had an opposing view of my impeachment complaint against (then Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes) Sereno and he was also on the opposing side in my complaint against ABS-CBN. History would tell how they went.” (Gadon won in both cases—Editor).