Cha-cha bill to be debated in August

Speaker Jose de Venecia debunked claims yesterday that the proposal to amend the Constitution is dead in the Senate, saying the joint measure will be debated on the Senate floor by early August.

At a public forum organized by the Kilusan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas-Metro Manila chapter, De Venecia said public opinion is growing in favor of Charter change through constituent assembly, as Filipinos become more informed about the campaign.

"The Charter change movement is on schedule. I am gladdened by the assurance given by Sen. (Edgardo) Angara to me and (Western Samar) Rep. Eduardo Nachura that this will be debated on the Senate floor by the first week of August," he said.

Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, has jointly filed a resolution to amend the Constitution with Sen. Robert Barbers.

Nachura is chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments. Both Senate and House resolutions call for the convening of a constituent assembly as a mode of amending the Charter.

Angara, who met with Nachura last week, has left for the United States. They have remained in close touch as Angara’s committee makes a final push to gain eight senatorial votes so the committee could bring the report out for plenary discussion.

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments has scheduled a vote on July 14.

De Venecia said more senators are now "sympathetic" to Charter change as he assured them that the move seeks to amend only specific provisions in the Constitution.