New legislators former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former First Lady Imelda Marcos and world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao attended an orientation at the House of Representatives Thursday, a television report said.
Textbook on the new Philippine Constitution
Mrs. Arroyo is representing Pampanga's second district, Marcos the second district of Ilocos Norte while Pacquiao, the lone district of Sarangani.
Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shakes hands at the House orientation for neophyte congressmen on Thursday. Lia Mañalac, GMA News
The Language Provision of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
A GMA Flash Report said also present during the orientation were former Arroyo administration officials Anthony Golez Jr. (Bacolod, Negros Occidental), Arthur Yap (Bohol), as well as celebrities Lucy Torres-Gomez (Leyte fourth district) and Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite second district).
The Philippine constitution explained
The report said the orientation tackled legislative processes at the House and crafting the national budget. A mock session was also held.
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Philippine government in action and the Philippine constitution
The 15th Congress will open on July 26, when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his first State of the Nation Address.
Last week, Mrs. Arroyo filed her first ever House resolution, which sought to amend the 1987 Constitution through a constitutional convention.
“Whereas, the 22-year-old 1987 Philippine Constitution contains certain provisions which have outlived their purpose and need to be revisited to institute much needed socio-economic and political reforms," read the resolution.
NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINES EXPLAINED
Throughout her presidency, she had been perceived trying to prolong her stay in power through tinkering with term limits prescribed by the Charter. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ/LBG