Bato wants party-list system abolished

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa wants to remove the party-list system in the 1987 Constitution as he described the system as "redundant". 

"Ito gusto ko baguhin talaga,  'yung party-list system sana matanggal na yan... Sa nakikita ko parang redundancy na 'yan sa representation... Meron naman tayong district representation," Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview on Thursday.

(I really want to change and remove the party-list system. It's redundant, there's already district representation.)

Dela Rosa also believes the system has been abused by some politicians.

"Masyadong inaabuso 'yang party-list system na 'yan. Sana matanggal na yan," he added.

(The party-list system was really abused. I hope it will be removed.)

Under the 1987 Constitution, party-list representatives shall constitute twenty percent of the total number of representatives in the lower chamber.

Dela Rosa is a member of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.

Meanwhile, aside from the party-list system, Dela Rosa said he is also open to the idea of amending the Constitution's economic provisions.

However, he noted that there are recently approved laws that will serve as a "solution" to the so-called restrictive economic provisions.

Further, the lawmaker said he is still undecided if he will fully support the moves to amend the Constitution in Congress due to lack of support from other senators.

"Gusto ko baguhin pero nagdadalawang isip, fifty-fifty ako. Kasi alam kong hindi makakalusot 'yan sa Senado dahil lukewarm ang treatment ng aking mga kasamahan pagdating sa Charter Change na yan," he said.

(I want some amendments to the Constitution, but I am still undecided because my colleagues are lukewarm to the idea of charter change.)

Senator Robin Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, has filed a measure in the Senate seeking to amend the Constitution through Constituent Assembly.

Padilla is still pushing for charter change despite President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s remark, saying amending the 1987 Constitution is not a priority. —VAL, GMA Integrated News