Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Lawmakers and a think tank have questioned the move of a House of Representatives panel pushing for a constitutional convention to pursue cha-cha or charter change.
Albay First District Rep. Edcel Lagman said despite President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. stressing that cha-cha is not a priority in his administration, the resolution’s quick approval in the House committee was “because the President must have given his covert assent to cha-cha.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Loren Legarda said it’s best to focus on agriculture, food security and assisting small business owners, instead of amending the Constitution since the country is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Sonny Africa, executive director of think tank IBON Foundation, said instead of pursuing cha-cha, “our politics just need more progressives with the people’s best interest at heart.”
\”No amount of cha-cha will make things any better if it’s still the same politicians in power,\” Africa said. \”Things can already get better even without cha-cha.\”
In an interview, Deputy Speaker Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said opposition lawmakers are welcome to voice their side.
“Binigyan namin ng panahon magsalita [ang mga opposition], maghintay [kami]. Binigyan rin namin ng panahon ang mga pro regarding this matter,” Gonzales told CNN Philippines News Night.
[We gave the opposition time to speak; We will wait. We will also gave time to those who are pro regarding this matter.]
“We’re just doing our job to tackle the issues, proposed resolutions regarding the constitutional amendments,” he added.
On Feb. 20, the Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved a Resolution of Both Houses, calling for a constitutional convention to pursue cha-cha.
READ: House panel wants constitutional convention to amend Constitution
Seventeen lawmakers voted yes while three voted no and one abstained.
According to the committee report, the constitutional convention “ would be the most transparent, exhaustive, democratic and least divisive means of implementing constitutional reforms” as it “provides for the election of its delegates and the corresponding appropriation.”
