Arroyo a ‘unifying factor’ for senators to oppose Cha-cha — Lacson

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo takes over the rostrum minutes before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address. JOAN BONDOC

Because of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, senators are now united against Charter-change (Cha-cha), Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday.

Lacson disclosed that there was an “overwhelming sentiment” among senators that Arroyo would “aspire” to become prime minister.

READ: Sotto to Duterte: 10 senators may have had ‘issues’ with Arroyo

This sentiment, he said, was reached during an all-senators’ caucus last July 24 or a day after Arroyo succeeded in ousting then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“Kasi binibilang din namin ‘yung naiiwang panahon. We will go on break in October, babalik kami ng November, go on break in December, then balik kami ng January, break na naman ng February. Bakit kailangan mag-change pa ng leadership? Ano ‘yung end state desired?” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“’Yan ang tinitingnan namin. So these are analyses, we may be right, we may be wrong, but that’s the analysis na sine-share ng aming mga kasama sa Senado,” the senator said.

Because of the suspicion that Arroyo’s ascension to speakership was a prelude to her becoming prime minister, Lacson said the Senate immediately solidified its stand on Cha-cha.

“Parang nag-solidify ang Senate na teka muna, pagisipan natin mabuti itong Charter change if we will go through it or even lift a finger to initiate a move from the Senate to go into a joint session or joint resolution with the House,” he said.

“Parang si Speaker Arroyo pa at that point — I don’t know if there will be changes in our sentiments — pero at that particular point, noong Tuesday, the following day (after Sona), parang naging unifying factor pa si Speaker Arroyo sa mga senador to go against Cha-cha.”

“Call it wariness, call it distrust, call it anything you want to call it, pero ‘yan ang naging sentiment,” Lacson added.

In the said caucus, he said, they agreed to just “fold our arms” and “do nothing” on Cha-cha.

“…Because we may be trapped if we even adopt a joint resolution with the House of Representatives,” Lacson said.

The senator was referring to the resolution passed by the House calling for the convening of a constituent assembly to tackle Charter change. /je