Enrile blows top over texter

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile blew his top over a text message sent in to a radio show saying that Charter change (Cha-cha) would not be the answer to the current problems of the economy.

Enrile challenged the texter to a debate and said he was “stupid.”

Enrile had earlier said he was open to Cha-cha as long as only economic provisions would be touched so that the country could attract investments at this time of the global crisis.

While being interviewed over radio station dwIZ, a listener sent a text message which radio host Cely Ortega-Bueno relayed to the Senate chief.

Enrile obviously did not like it and lashed out at the unidentified texter.

“My question to the texter is this – so what is your answer to the current problems of the country? What? What is your plan? So what do you advise us to do, huh? I am asking you,” Enrile said.

“If he (texter) wants he can come out and we can debate about this in front of the public, whatever he plans to do,” he added.

Enrile said the government should not stop thinking about how to address the plight of the people, especially when many businesses are shutting down.

“Are we just going to neglect the people who lost their jobs? Are we just going to neglect the families who are hungry? That is foolishness. Tell him (the texter) he is stupid,” he said.

Earlier, Enrile reiterated that his position on Cha-cha had long been known.

He said it is important to amend the Constitution to make it attuned to present times.

The Senate chief said he was open to Cha-cha but noted that most senators would object to it because some elective officials might lift their term limits imposed in the Charter.

Asked whether Malacañang had talked to him to support Cha-cha, Enrile said no and stressed that “nobody could order me around.”