Cayetano to oppose Cha-cha

Senate Minority Leader Renato Cayetano said yesterday that he would oppose all proposals to amend the Constitution, either by an elected constitutional convention or by the House and the Senate convened as a constituent assembly.

Cayetano, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said that aside from being very divisive, Charter change (Cha-cha) is not timely,.

"Cha-cha will keep the House and the Senate from giving full attention to the legislative agenda of President Arroyo. The legislature must focus only on ensuring economic and political stability for the country, and Charter change will deflect this focus," he argued.

He also contended that amending the Constitution during this time would again divide the country. He pointed out that the country has just gone through a highly emotional election campaign, and dividing the citizenry again on the Cha-cha issue would not help ease the wounds.

Sen. Franklin Drilon has declared that he would file a joint resolution as soon as the 12th Congress convenes to call for a Constitutional Convention. – Efren Danao