Lawmaker hopeful senators will be persuaded on Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — An administration lawmaker said yesterday she is cautiously optimistic that senators can still be swayed into supporting President Duterte’s proposal to shift to a federal form of government through Charter change.

“I’m cautiously hopeful and optimistic because I know our senators also want to be able to improve our system of government,” Nueva Ecija 4th District Rep. Magnolia Antonino said at a news forum in Quezon City.

Antonino is banking on Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s diplomatic skills in convincing senators to support the President’s agenda.

This is despite the pronouncement of most senators that they are cool to Cha-cha for various reasons, including the fact that dividing the country into many regions can be costly and not viable.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also said it was Arroyo’s takeover of the House’s top post, replacing Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez that united senators against Cha-cha.

Arroyo has been pushing for Cha-cha since she was president that critics said could have made her prime minister.

But Antonino believes the former president is capable of reaching a compromise.

Unlike Alvarez, Antonino said Arroyo has applied a non-confrontational approach.

“She is a diplomat so hopefully, with a dialogue, we could come to an agreement with the Senate so that we can really push for Charter change,” Antonino said.

She expressed confidence that Arroyo’s friendlier stance would somehow change the minds of some senators.

“She doesn’t want to clash with the Senate,” Antonino said.

Arroyo, in a television interview, admitted there is not enough time for Cha-cha under the present Congress.

“I hope to move it forward as far as I can during my time as Speaker… I hope those who follow after will pick up from where we left off in this Congress,” she said.