Padilla-led panel pushes 100% foreign ownership of land

Senator Robinhood Padilla —Senate PRIB Photo

Despite the objection of many of his colleagues against Charter change (Cha-cha), Sen. Robinhood Padilla on Friday released for the first time a list of his committee’s recommended amendments to the 1987 Constitution, including full foreign ownership of land.

In a nine-page draft report, the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes recommended amendments to seven sections in three articles of the Charter.

The provisions were Sections 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11 of Article XII; Section 4 of Article XIV; and Section 11 of Article XVI.

All of the suggested revisions involved foreign ownership, and there were no suggested changes in political provisions, like term limits on elected officials and the theoretical prohibition on political dynasties.

READ: Robin Padilla submits proposed amendments to economic provisions of 1987 Constitution

One suggestion was that Congress enact a law allowing foreign nationals to acquire private land not exceeding 1,000 square meters and allowing foreign corporations to acquire rural land not exceeding five hectares.

Padilla did not say how many of the committee’s 12 members have already signed the committee report so that it can be presented before the entire Senate for approval.

Aside from Padilla, the committee’s other members are Senators Francis Tolentino, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Mark Villar and Risa Hontiveros.

READ: Robin Padilla wants more foreign investors; but no tax perks for them

But, contrary to an earlier claim of Padilla, Hontiveros said she will not sign the draft report, because she believed that amending the constitution was not necessary at this time.

“I will not sign because I believe that, like the Maharlika Investment Fund, Cha-cha is not what is needed right now,” Hontiveros said at a press conference on March 21.

With the fate of the committee still uncertain, Padilla insisted that holding a constituent assembly was the appropriate and inexpensive mode to alter the 36-year-old Charter.

The senator argued that the restrictive and protectionist provisions of the Constitution should be lifted to let foreign businesses fully own private properties, congressional franchises, schools, mass media and public utilities.

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