Gatchalian: Cha-cha not a Senate priority especially political amendments

Senator Win Gatchalian on Saturday said proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution were not a priority in the Senate, especially the political amendments.

In a radio interview, Gatchalian said some senators were unconvinced of the need for Charter change, especially on political amendments, which were only “for self-interest.”

“Sa aking pulso mukhang malabo [pumasa sa Senado], hindi kumbinsido ang ating mga kasamahan na mag Cha-cha. Hindi iyon prayoridad ngayon dahil maraming ginagawa lalo na yung political amendments dahil yung political amendments pansariling interes yan, habaan yung termino tanggalin, yung term limits hindi pang taumbayan para sa pulitiko lang yan,” he said.

(In my opinion, it looks like it will not pass the Senate. Our colleagues are unconvinced about Cha-cha. That is not a priority because many other things need doing. Especially the political amendments because these are about self-interest. Extending the term, removing the term limits; it is not for the people. It is only for the politician.)

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 6, which calls for a constitutional convention (con-con) to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House aimed to limit the Charter change (Cha-cha) initiative to the economic provisions of the constitution “to attract more foreign investments.”

Gatchalian then advised the lawmakers to ask experts whether cha-cha was beneficial for the country.

"Ako kahit nag-file nung economic provisions gusto ko pa rin pakinggan ang mga eksperto kung itong ating panukala eh makakatulong sa bansa o hindi. Sa aking pananaw makakatulong pero pakinggan din natin yung mga iba pang eksperto,” the senator said.

(Even if I was the one who filed the economic provisions, I would still want to listen to the experts, if this proposal of ours will help the country. In my view, it would help. But let's also listen to other experts.)

“Pangalawa, dahil ang naaprubahan sa Kongreso ngayon ay walang limitasyon con-con pwedeng political amendments hindi confident yung mga senador natin dahil ako, hindi ako sang-ayon sa political amendments, marami sa ating mga kasamahan hindi sang-ayon sa political amendments,” he said.

(Second, because what Congress approved has no limitations, con-con, it can be political amendments. Our senators have doubts. Because I disagree with political amendments. Many of our colleagues do not agree with political amendments.)

“Yung iba dahil diyan hindi na sang-ayon sa lahat. Kung ganyan ang pananaw ng Kongreso dapat nakareflect yan o nakasulat yan doon sa resolution na ipinadala nila o inaprubahan nila para klaro kung ano yung gagawin. Ngayon kasi lahat lumalabas sa media pero kapag tinignan mo sa papel iba. Baka sa media lang sinasabi pero pagdating sa gawa iba, hindi mabuti ang kalalabasan niyan,” he furthered.

(The others don't agree with everything written. If that is the view of the Congress, it should be reflected or written in the resolution they sent or approved so that it is clear what will be done. Now everything appears in the media, but when you look at the paper it's different. Maybe it's only said in the media but when it comes to doing things it is different, the outcome won't be good.)

Senate President Miguel Zubiri said that there were not enough yes votes for a Charter change measure to pass in the Senate.

Zubiri previously said that he was "confused" why legislators from the House of Representatives were rushing the Senate to act on proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Romualdez replied that legislators were working quickly because public interest was at stake. — DVM, GMA Integrated News