Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) — The Senate on Tuesday said it is not keen on tackling charter change and will instead focus on the Marcos administration’s legislative priorities.
Senators backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement that amending the Constitution is not among his priorities.
I welcome the statement of the president na hindi rin priority ‘yan [that it’s not a priority]… Because at this point in time, ayaw po nating pasukan ang isang divisive issue [we do not want to touch on a divisive issue],” Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said.
Zubiri emphasized that the Senate should instead focus on economic recovery and pandemic rehabilitation, citing measures concerning the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, creating a Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the revival of mandatory military training among the youth, and the Maharlika fund bill, among others.
Sen. Grace Poe agreed — underscoring that if the president does not support charter change, Congress should first address issues in the priority list.
“The pronouncement of the President will definitely affect the consensus on the need for charter change,” Poe said.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano added that the charter change proposal is just an “additional distraction” amid economic concerns.
He also noted that the country still requires “political maturity,” especially since the Constitution has only been in force for three decades.
“Remember, compared to many nations around the world, napakabata pa lang ng ating bansa [our country is still very young],” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel echoed Marcos’ statement that foreign investments can still come in even without changing the Constitution.
“The proposal to change the economic provisions of the Constitution is not urgent at all as we have passed some economic liberalization laws,” Pimentel said, as he cited the Public Service Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and the Foreign Investment Act, among others.
“These discussions scare away foreign investment and confuse the public as to whether charter change is just for political gain,” Poe added.
The House of Representatives has shown determination to continue its discussion on amending the Constitution.
Proponents have said there is a need to revise what they describe as restrictive economic provisions – such as those on foreign ownership of businesses in the country – to attract additional investments.
The president’s cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, is among those pushing for an economic charter change.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, also said his panel will continue to hold public hearings and consultations on charter change proposals.
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Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said he has “no hard feelings” against Marcos for his pronouncement “since it is not the president’s mandate to take steps to amend the Constitution.”
Padilla is bent on holding hearings on charter change, maintaining that the Constitution’s economic provisions must be amended to allow more foreign investments — and in turn, generate more jobs for Filipinos.
“Sen. Robin Padilla can continue with this discussion on charter change pero hanggang committee report lang yun… and we have to see kung pipirmahan ba ng mga colleagues natin ang committee report kasi may mga kausap akong mga senador na hindi sila pabor na pag-usapan ang charter change,” Zubiri said.
