REP. HERNANDEZ WALKS OUT OF CHACHA

In what was to be his first occasion to vote as member of the House of Representatives, newly-proclaimed Anak Mindanao Representative Ariel Hernandez opted to walk out of the proceedings that eventually led to the adoption of House Resolution 1109, which calls for the members of Congress to convene into a Constitutional Assembly.

            “I was looking forward to casting my No vote to the Charter Change but it became too obvious that the proceedings was a mere charade, luto na! I did not want to be caught in their trap and be part of a scripted part of history.” the Mindanawan solon explained.

            Rep. Hernandez however believes that there are indeed provisions in the 1987 Constitution needing review and revisions to address current issues especially within the Mindanaw context, but emphasized that now is not the time to do it.

            “Mindanaw peace and development has always been Anak Mindanao’s and my personal agenda and we recognize the need for Constitutional amendments to realize this agenda,” Hernandez said. “There are political options like Federalism which has the potential of solving the crisis in Mindanaw, not just the political issues of Right to Self Determination of the Bangsamoro and the Indigenous People, but also the potential to bring in necessary, sustainable and self-reliant kind of development to the region. But this will only become an option if the Constitution is changed,” he further said.

            When asked if he favors Constitutional Assembly, Hernandez stressed his support to the call for a Constitutional Convention instead of a Constitutional Assembly. The solon argued that any change in the Constitution will only be morally acceptable when made with the direct mandate from the people.