Senate will not rush to Cha-cha hearings, Zubiri says

The Senate will set the pace on deliberating the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 (RBH 6), which seeks to amend certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday.

During the hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, Zubiri told panel chairman Sonny Angara that “the timeline is in your hands” as regards to how long the discussions on RBH 6 should run.

“The Senate is working very hard to listen to the clamor of certain sectors, to look at and revisit the 1987 Constitution. But we will not be falling into a trap on any deadline because to discuss such an important matter needs time, it needs study. It cannot be rushed like any regular bill that is just approved without thinking,” Zubiri said.

“We, ladies and gentlemen here in the Senate, will make sure that we deliberate this as much as possible and come out with the best outcome for the people,” he added.

Angara echoed the Senate President’s pronouncement in his opening remarks.

“This is not something that needs to be rushed given the importance. Kung ‘yung pangkaraniwang patakaran ay talagang dinedebate natin, mas lalo na ‘to dahil ito ay pinakamahalaga o pinakamataas na batas sa bansa, ang mismong Saligang Batas,” he said.

(If we are debating the ordinary policies, then we should debate on this more because the Constitution is the most important law in the country.)

RBH No. 6

RBH No. 6 seeks to amend some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Articles XII, XIV, and XVI.

The constitutional provisions on public services, education, and advertising industry will be amended by adding the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

Last week, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe of Zamboanga City's Second District challenged the Senate to fast-track the passage of RBH No. 6 to end the ongoing people's initiative.

Dalipe made the remark amid the Senate's repeated call for the House of Representatives to end its supposed support for the present people's initiative, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution to allow Congress to vote jointly on the proposed amendments to the charter.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), for its part, has also suspended all the proceedings related to the people’s initiative to allow time to review and enhance the related existing implementing rules and regulations.

Foreign investors

During the same hearing, Senator Imee Marcos said she is in close contact with foreign investors and locators almost daily, and revealed that they never mentioned that there is a need to amend the Philippine Constitution.

“Each time they stated that there was a need for lower rates of electricity, infinitely better infrastructure, less red tape, and a predictable and reliable regulatory framework. At no point did they say that the Constitution needed to be changed,” she said. 

Marcos is the chairman of the Senate Committees on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, as well as of Foreign Relations.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also committed not to allow any provisions that will make the country's industries, institutions, and resources “vulnerable to foreign takeover and exploitation.”

“Huwag sana nating gawing collateral damage ang Konstitusyon — ang mismong kaluluwa ng bansa. We, the Filipino people, will determine our destiny. Hindi ‘yung ambisyon lang ng iilan,” she said. 

(Let's not make the Constitution—-the very soul of the nation—a collateral damage. The Filipino people will determine our destiny, not just the ambition of a few people.) 

‘Exhaustive hearings’

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, said that the Senate will conduct “exhaustive hearings” on RBH 6.

“Unlike itong pekeng PI (people’s initiative), hindi naman ito niru-rush [we are not rushing this unlike the fake PI]. We will do it right and we will follow our timeline — one that ensures that all voices are heard. This will be transparent. Our people will know what’s going on and what we’re talking about,” he said.

At the same time, Villanueva said the Senate won’t stop its ongoing inquiry on the alleged cash distribution in exchange of signatures for people’s initiative (PI) for Charter change.

“Ceasefire [with the House counterparts] does not mean to cease working or stop the people's initiative inquiry kasi siyempre kung may nakita tayong sablay…tumatawag si Senator Bato [dela Ros] kasi ang dami na niyang nakitang sablay. Kapag may nakitang sablay ang Senado, talagang iimbestigahan ito. Hindi tayo makikibit balikat,” Villanueva said during the hearing.

[Ceasefire [with the House counterparts] does not mean to cease working or stop the people's initiative inquiry because we have seen some irregularities. Senator Bato has seen some. When the Senate sees irregularities, we really investigate these.]

“Experience has taught us that what they say in the House and what they do can be two different things. We will make sure that what their words and actions are consistent. While we make the sure that the RBH 6 sticks to the original intention of amending the economic provisions of the Constitution, we will continue to be proactive in our measures to thwart unconstitutional Cha-cha efforts, including the [PI] investigation being led by Senator Imee Marcos,” Villanueva added.

“Nakita naman natin na meron talagang questionable sa pagpapapirma ng pekeng initiative. May mali po. Why should we turn a blind eye to the irregularities?,” he said.

[We saw that there are questionable (incidents) in the gathering of signatures for the fake initiative.]

“Sino ang nagpondo ng kampanya, saan galing itong pondo? [Who is funding the campaign, where are the funds coming from?] Why is there so much traffic in Forbes Park when getting the 2.5. Why are chiefs of staff are in a rush to get there [in Forbes park]? Ayaw natin masayang ang salapi ng taumbayan. [We don’t want to waste public funds.] The people have the right to know, is their money used for their benefit? Or for the political agenda of some?” he added. — KG/RSJ/KBK, GMA Integrated News