House majority leader sees Cha-cha moving under Escudero

The leader of the majority in the House of Representatives has expressed optimism that the Charter change for economic provisions pushed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. would "take positive strides" with a Senate led by its new Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe, the House Majority Leader, made the remark despite Escudero's known opposition to Cha-cha.hours after the latter's election to the Senate leadership. ??????

"I am optimistic that under Senator Escudero's guidance, Congress will take positive strides toward achieving the economic constitutional reforms advocated by the President," Dalipe said.

"His extensive experience and proven commitment are invaluable as we endeavor to enact legislation that will benefit our country and its people," he added.

Dalipe and Speaker Martin Romualdez issued separate statements to congratulate Escudero on his ascent to the Senate helm.

"Under President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' R. Marcos Jr.'s administration, we have laid out comprehensive programs and initiatives aimed at uplifting the lives of millions of Filipinos," Romualdez said.

"With Senator Escudero's leadership in the Senate, I am confident that we can further strengthen our legislative agenda and ensure the successful implementation of these programs," he added.

At a press conference, Escudero said the plans on Cha-cha would 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."

"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.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, a deputy minority leader in the House, also welcomed the election of Escudero as Senate President.

"We welcome the change in leadership in the Senate and hope that this development will pave the way for a more definitive stand against Charter change and other anti-people measures," Castro said.

"We hope that the Senate will now focus on junking the problematic Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) and rejecting fascist moves such as the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)," she added.

"We call on our senators to be more proactive in addressing the pressing concerns of our people, such as the need for a more comprehensive and sustainable transportation system, and to reject policies that only serve the interests of a few," Castro said. —NB, GMA Integrated News