Cha-cha up for discussion by Senate majority, says Chiz

The measure that seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution is now facing uncertainty after the Senate has changed its leadership.

This was indicated by no less than the newly installed Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who has been vocal against charter change (Cha-cha).

At a press conference, Escudero said the plans on Cha-cha will be discussed by the majority bloc.

"We will discuss it on the part of the majority. But you know my position and I have no plans of changing my position," Escudero told reporters.

Asked if Cha-cha is already dead in the Senate, Escudero said, "It’s not for me to say."

Escudero is a known opponent of changes to the 1987 Constitution.

"I think I was one of the more vocal ones during that time. So I don't see any reason why there’s concern about that," Escudero said when asked about the administration-backed Cha-cha measure. 

Escudero said the scheduled hearings of the panel won't push through because Senator Sonny Angara has resigned as the chairperson of the Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes.

The subcommittee had been conducting hearings on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 or the measure seeking to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Before Angara resigned, the Senate subcommittee was supposed to conduct consultations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro on RBH 6.

"Pansamantalang hindi matutuloy yon. We will not hold any such hearings outside of Metro Manila or either inside the Senate and we will formally make known our decision as a group and as a Senate as regards to this," Escudero said.

Angara left the chairmanship of the Senate subcommittee after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri resigned from his post as Senate President.

In a separate interview, Zubiri said that cha-cha will no longer progress in the Senate as far as the discussions during his leadership are concerned.

"Wala na. Goodbye Cha-cha. Nag-resign na si Sonny...Angara. Nag-resign na po siya. Wala na. It's all cancelled... As far as we're concerned the Cha-cha this week is dead. We don't have Cha-cha hearings," Zubiri said.

Mentioning Cha-cha push as one of the factors that he believed to be the reason for his replacement as Senate president, Zubiri hoped that those who voted for Escudero to take the reins of the chamber know that the latter is against cha-cha.

"Alam niyo naman si Senator Escudero anti-cha-cha... I hope that the people that supported him know that. Strange bedfellows. I will say [these are] strange bedfellows," Zubiri said. —NB, GMA Integrated News