Zubiri: Getting votes to pass economic Cha-cha a 'big challenge' in Senate

It would be a big challenge for the Senate to gather a majority vote to pass the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 in the chamber, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri admitted on Wednesday.

The Senate chief issued the admission following remarks of the minority bloc that there are around seven senators who are inclined to vote against the RBH 6 which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Apart from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senators Cynthia Villar and Imee Marcos have expressed their opposition to RBH6.

"It's a challenge, it's a big challenge kasi I think 'yung away ng mga kaibigan natin sa House dito sa mga kaibigan natin sa Senado isang factor din po 'yan kasi nagkakaroon nga ng trust issues," Zubiri said at a press conference.

[It's a challenge, it's a big challenge because I think the rift with between our friends at the House (of Representatives) and at the Senate is a factor because of trust issues.]

Zubiri shared that he even told President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. about the personal positions of several senators against Charter change.

"I just mentioned to him [that] there may be a problem...Ang banggit ko lang kay presidente, it may be challenging kasi nga marami may mga kasamahan po tayo na ayaw talaga nila ng Charter change," Zubiri said.

[I told the President that it may be challenging because we have senators who are against Charter change.]

While the Senate was designated by Marcos to lead the deliberations on the economic amendments to the constitution, Zubiri explained that they will not seek the help of the president to woo his colleagues.

"Wala po tayong hininging tulong sa kanya because it's more an independent issue by Congress (House) and the Senate," he said.

[We will not seek help from the President because it's more of an independent issue by the House and Senate.]

"We're complying with our commitment na pagdebatehan po 'yan sa committee level and the discussions with the stakeholders. So pagdating po ng panahon na sa botohan na ay ibang usapan po yan. We will have to make our case to our colleagues na this is necessary," he added.

[We're complying with our commitment that we will debate on this at the committee level and discuss with the stakeholders. So when the time comes that we will vote on the measure, it will be a different story. We will have to make our case to our colleagues that this is necessary.]

'Realm of possibilities'

Although he mentioned that gathering support of the majority of the senators is challenging, Zubiri said it is still in the "realm of possibilities" to get 18 or three-fourth votes of the entire Senate for RBH6 to be approved.

"There's still a majority in the Senate, I think that believe that economic provisions should be amended, a majority but there's not enough for three-fourths.

He also believes that the rumored coup was because of the ongoing deliberations to amend the Constitution.

"One of the concerns kaya siguro nagkaroon nitong mga haka-haka was because of the Charter change kasi...quite a few...those concerns of some are because nga it might be a trap, 'di ba? It might be a trap for voting as one," Zubiri said.

"[Those] concerns have to be addressed and we're doing that with our rules and definitely, may kaunting trust issues," he added.

He then appealed to the members of the House of Representatives to "slow down on the rhetoric against each other" so they can push for the passage of the economic amendments to the constitution.

"It's unnecessary noise hindi naman po kailangan nyan [that's not really necessary]. Let's slow down the rhetoric against each other...Kasi [because] it just fuels the fire and because of that, there will come a time that there's certain trust issues that we have to face at yan ang napakahirap baka nasunog na yung tulay mahirap na [it is really difficult, we might burn bridges]," he explained.

Zubiri likewise stressed that they uphold the independence of each senator in voting for a measure.

"We practice one man, one vote here or one person, one vote. Hindi por que inutos ko sa kanila, gagawin nila. Alam mo pag inutusan ko sila gawin 'yan, mawawala talaga ako as Senate president. Maniwala kayo sa akin. I will no longer have the trust and confidence of more than 14 senators if I force a vote, force them to vote in the affirmative," Zubiri said.

[We practice one man, one vote here or one person, one vote. It doesn't mean that if I order them, they will follow. If I order them, I will really be gone as Senate president. Believe me, I will no longer have the trust and confidence of more than 14 senators if I force a vote, force them to vote in the affirmative.]

Coup

Over the weekend, fresh speculations of a coup against Zubiri were floated.

Amid this, a statement of support for Zubiri was routed among senators. Zubiri said this move was initiated by his close colleagues.

So far, 17 senators have signed the statement of support. Apart from the 14 senators who earlier signed the document, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla and Robin Padilla have also given their support for Zubiri's leadership. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News