Robin claims half of senators back Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is not keen on pushing for Charter change, but Sen. Robinhood Padilla believes he already has half the Senate on his side and a few more to win over to get the 1987 Constitution amended.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum yesterday, Padilla said he and – by his count – 11 other senators support Cha-cha, while others may still be convinced to join them.

At present, Padilla is counting on his three partymates in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Senators Francis Tolentino, Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa; also Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel; fellow actors-turned-politicians Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid; as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar and Cynthia Villar.

“If you will ask me, (I have the support of) four PDP-Laban, I believe Sen. Koko, an advocate of federalism, (would support the constitutional amendment) and Sen. Risa also believed in parliamentary (form of government),” Padilla said. 

“I think I can win Win (Gatchalian). I can count on my partners in the movie, Revilla, Estrada, Lapid, and I believe that Sen. Mark Villar, who used to be part of the Cabinet of former president Duterte (will join me),” he said.

“Although I need 18 votes, God willing, if it (committee report) will get to the plenary, I will be able to keep the minds of other senators open,” Padilla, speaking in Filipino, added.

Padilla said the Constitution must adapt to the times when technology has changed the landscape of the way people live.

“The Constitution should be updated for the age of artificial intelligence, it must adjust to the times. It pains me to say this but our Constitution has fallen behind, like stagnant water – when it should be flowing along with the passage of time,” Padilla said.

Padilla mentioned that 20 senators voted to ratify Senate Resolution No. 485, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which detailed the supposed benefits of the Philippines in trade with other countries.

“How can we be competitive, if our Constitution is obsolete? When the Constitution was made, there were still no smartphones and no internet. Our Constitution must keep up with technology,” he asked.

At the same time, Padilla wants the benefits of the RCEP to benefit Filipino farmers, noting that amending the Constitution’s economic provisions would be key to achieving this.

Also, Padilla voiced concerns that if RCEP is not properly implemented, it could have a similar effect on farmers as the Rice Tariffication Law, which allowed the importation of rice and allowed palay prices to drop.

Padilla is seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions to allow the entry of foreign investments, which are restricted to a maximum of 40 percent. In his Resolution of Both Houses No. 3, he proposed that this be done through a constituent assembly with members of the Senate and House of Representatives voting separately. – Delon Porcalla