Cha-Cha as an economic risk

PHILIPPINES - In Brief 04 Mar 2024 by Diwa Guinigundo

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In our previous report dated February 12, 2024, we raised the brewing issue of a possible break up in the UniTeam of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vice-President Sara Duterte. The cracks were beginning to be more apparent first in the International Criminal Court (ICC) involving the Vice-President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. He has been accused of and investigated for allegedly committing extra judicial killings in connection with his war on drugs before and during his incumbency. Expected to protect the ex-President, President Marcos upheld the country’s sovereignty but at the same time was quoted in the press as having assured ICC members that they could visit the Philippines in their personal capacity. Of course, nothing could prevent them from concluding their initial probe into the case. The second crack could also come from the on-going efforts to amend or revise the 1987 Philippine Constitution. If it’s a simple amendment, the focus will be on the liberalization of the so-called restrictive economic provisions that limit foreign ownership of the last few remaining economic sectors. Previous legislative reforms have broadened foreigners’ access to infrastructure sector like rails, sea ports, airports and telecommunications. Retail trade was also opened up. If it’s revision, as what the repudiated People’s Initiative would like to propose, an easy shift from presidential to the parliamentary system is possible, term limits of elected officials could be extended by not calling for an election in the next few years. The check and balance mechanism in Congress could be dispensed with by allowing Congress to discuss and vote jointly on constitution...