Marcos says open to wider constitution changes

MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (pic) said he’s in favour of amending the nation’s nearly 40-year-old Constitution, expressing concern over its restrictive economic provisions and keeping the door open to changes in politicians’ term limits.

"The 1987 Constitution was not written for a globalised world and that’s where we are now. We have to adjust so we can increase economic activity in the Philippines,” Marcos said in an interview with local broadcaster GMA News aired on Tuesday (Jan 24).

Marcos’s comments represent his clearest support yet for moves by his allies in Congress to revise the Constitution that was crafted after the ouster of his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country for two decades.

The president said removing foreign ownership limits on Philippine corporations is a potential area for discussion except critical industries such as power generation and media. Marcos said he isn’t in favour of allowing foreigners to own land because it would price out locals.

The 66-year old leader is also open to amending political provisions including those that impose term limits on elected officials, saying they haven’t prevented political families from staying in power.

But "we can have these discussions later on,” he said. "I do not want to jeopardise the success of the amendments to the economic provisions by putting in other issues.”

Philippine presidents can only serve a single, six-year term under the 1987 Constitution.

Among efforts in Congress in support of charter change, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and two of his colleagues last week filed a proposal to allow greater foreign ownership, particularly in public utilities and education.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Marcos’s cousin, has said he will push for the Constitutional changes this year.

Asked on the issue of him recently congratulating Taiwan’s new leader Lai Ching-te that angered China, Marcos said his action was "just common courtesy” and that the Philippines continues to adhere to a one-China policy. - Bloomberg