MANILA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A consultative committee (Con-Com) tasked to review the Philippine constitution unanimously approved on Tuesday a final draft of the proposed charter that allows for a shift to a federal form of government.
A copy of the final draft of the federal Charter is yet to be provided to the media, but the Con-Com furnished the media with a briefer of the highlights of the final draft.
Con-Com spokesperson Ding Generoso told reporters that the committee hopes to submit the draft to President Rodrigo Duterte on or before July 9 in time for the State of the Nation Address on July 23.
The draft also cracks down on political dynasties, allowing only a family to run for only two positions in an election - one member for a national position and the other for a regional position.
On political and electoral reforms, the federal Charter also bans turncoats among political parties, with the intention of promoting and strengthening political parties as public institutions.
It also bans campaign contributions from religious organizations and foreigners under a federal form of government.
On the executive branch, the draft says the president and vice president of a federal government must be college graduates, and it also says that candidates for president and vice president should also run as a ticket, not individually.
Under the Con-Com's draft constitution, the president will still be chief executive with a four-year term and can be reelected once. Under the present constitution, the president can serve for six years with no reelection.
