Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — Amid moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, Sen. Bato dela Rosa said he has not yet decided whether to support the proposal.
“Ang stand ko is 50-50 [My stand is 50-50],” Dela Rosa told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Thursday.
The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved on Feb. 20 a Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) which calls for a constitutional convention pushing for Charter change, or Cha-cha.
Dela Rosa noted that while he personally wants to change several provisions of the Constitution, he said is having second thoughts since there seems to be not enough support from the upper chamber.
“Sa amin sa Senado, we don’t have the numbers,” he said. “Talagang talo ‘yung Cha-cha.”
[Translation: In the Senate, we don’t have the numbers. Cha-cha will certainly lose.]
The senator pointed out that if the previous Congress failed to pass the proposal even with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s backing, what more now that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that amending the Constitution was not his administration’s priority.
Supporters of the move said that they will focus on amending the economic provisions in order to attract more foreign investors.
However, Dela Rosa said he cannot give the assurance that political provisions will not be tackled, which is a concern for some.
