EDITORIAL | Toxic politics distracting from pressing problems

AS expected, moves to amend the 1987 Constitution have become a distraction at a time when our leaders should be focusing on pressing issues and planning for the future. Like many others, this newspaper expressed concerns that Charter change was a divisive maneuver. The government should instead consider other ways of liberalizing the economy and making the country more attractive to investors.

The people’s initiative has been particularly toxic. The supposed public clamor to amend the Constitution has been tainted by alleged corruption. Senators said people were paid to sign that initiative. Also, allegations that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was the so-called puppet master behind the signature drive have raised suspicions that the real agenda was not about improving the economy.

Naturally, members of the House of Representatives are rallying to defend Mr. Romualdez, who seems to have cost his cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., some of his own political capital. Recently, even Mr. Marcos has been trading barbs with his predecessor, whose daughter is the incumbent vice president and presumed future rival of Speaker Romualdez for the presidency.

Fortunately, the Commission of Elections (Comelec) has stepped in, announcing that it stopped accepting the signature sheets from those supposedly for the people’s initiative. While the Comelec’s reason was largely legal, the political atmosphere hopefully benefits.

“The Comelec recognizes that the current guidelines lack provisions specific to crucial matters and emerging issues, including but not limited to the withdrawal of or opposition to submitted signature sheets and allegations of signature-buying and other issues on the counting and verification of signatures,” a statement said. That was referring to Resolution 10650, which was promulgated four years ago. It said election officers were duty-bound to certify the total number of signatures presented before the commissioners.

Comelec explained that it could only begin verifying signatures when the petition for people’s initiative was sufficient in form and substance after having been formally filed. In the same statement, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay added: “As far as the Commission is concerned, we have not received a valid Petition yet.”

Meanwhile, the Senate still seems open to the Resolution of Both Houses 6, which aims to revamp the economic provisions of the Constitution. But clearly, many have been turned off by the political drama. The time is ripe for them and others in government to revert their attention back to more urgent concerns, particularly the economy.

Dubious claim

Lawmakers pushing for Charter change argue that it is precisely meant to benefit the economy. But as many others have said, there are many ways to open the economy and make the country attractive to investors without amending the Constitution. They include removing import quotas still imposed on some commodities, cutting back more red tape that eats into investment returns, and even stamping out corruption. There are also bills still pending in Congress, including in the House, that can help improve the local investment climate.

Sure, the Constitution has flaws. But correcting them seems less urgent than pursuing other options that are not as politically risky.

Our columnist Stephen Cuunjieng pointed out that investment darlings like China and Vietnam have rules that are more restrictive than our Constitution. Their prohibition of land ownership, not to mention restrictions on the repatriation of capital, does not repel foreign investors. Therefore, there must be other reasons fewer investors are coming here.

Those pushing for Charter change are right in one thing, though. The time to act is now — before the Philippines falls further behind.

Sadly, they are wasting their time and public resources campaigning for something that is unacceptable to most Filipinos. Charter change fails to resolve the actual reasons business costs are higher here compared to elsewhere in the region. Insisting that Charter change is the only way or even the best way to realize the country’s economic aims simply sounds dubious.

If left unchecked, the political noise may spook investors and undermine the work to portray the Philippines as an ideal place to do business. Charter change seems like more trouble than it’s worth.