Pimentel: Senators cool to Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is openly supporting federalism through Charter change after House Speaker Martin Romualdez indicated a move to revisit the whole issue of the 1987 Constitution.

Pimentel, however, admitted that senators remain “cold” on the issue of Charter change or Cha-cha.

“The Senate is still cold on Cha-cha,” Pimentel said in Filipino, noting that the House plan to limit Cha-cha among congressmen would be unconstitutional.

“It’s not possible (to limit the Cha-cha with congressmen). Even those of us who are in favor of changing the Constitution in the Senate, who are only a few of us, we’ll still be against the actions of the House alone,” he said.

He noted that the “other agenda” was opening land ownership and economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

He is also against the exploitation of natural resources by foreigners.

“Don’t move the term limits, because we are forcing new blood into politics. That’s a good idea. Let’s not remove it, it’s the relationship between the national and the local,” he added.

Pimentel also stressed that voting for Cha-cha should be done separately and asserted that he is for a constitutional convention.

But those who are keen on amending the Constitution “have a lot of convincing to do in the Senate,” he added.

Sen. Francis Escudero said those who are again pushing for Cha-cha should clarify what specific procedure they will use or follow in amending the Constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said questions need to be answered: “Is this the right time to discuss it?… Will it undergo the right process?”

Imee: Ang kulit

Sen. Imee Marcos said “President Marcos has said that it is not timely because we should focus on people’s livelihood and bring down the price of rice and other goods and that was rejected twice by the Senate. It’s forced, why is that? Ang kulit.”

The House of Representatives-initiated Charter change jibes with President Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” theme, which also needs a new charter that would replace the 36-year-old Constitution.

Senior House Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. defended Marcos from speculations he may have had something to do with the pronouncement of Speaker Martin Romualdez that the move to amend the 1987 Constitution had his blessings.

“This is a legislative work. That’s a different body, that’s the executive department. I think the legislative will be the one to initiate this,” Gonzales, who represents Pampanga’s 3rd District, said.

He shielded Marcos from criticism the President may have wanted to extend his six-year term.

Gonzales, who resigned from the PDP-Laban party and joined the Lakas-CMD party of Romualdez, said the objective is to have a new charter.

“Bagong Konstitusyon ng Bagong Pilipinas – that’s our objective. How can we work in a new environment under a new Philippines when the Constitution remains old?” Gonzales said.

He said they aim to present the proposed Charter change to President Marcos before he delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 22 next year, just a year before the midterm elections in May 2025.

“I think we can get the target timeline in coordination with other congressmen and members of the Upper House. We will pursue Cha-cha next year. We will tackle the amendments to the Constitution,” Gonzales said.

The House official clarified that legislators are open to all modes of amending the Charter: people’s initiative, constitutional convention or constituent assembly.

Gonzales is in favor of extending the fixed six-year term of the president who, he suggested, should run “in tandem” with the vice president in every presidential election to prevent the usual conflict among the highest elected officials. – Delon Porcalla