Pangilinan warns vs. rushing Cha-cha as it is not ‘ordinary’ lawmaking

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned against rushing Charter change (Cha-cha) as amending the Constitution could not be treated like ordinary lawmaking.

In a statement on Monday, Pangilinan said, “We have warned in the past against rushing Charter change. This should not be treated like an ordinary bill that can simply be amended after a few hearings.”

Pangilinan also said only a genuine political opposition can raise critical questions and block plans to rush the approval of the revision of the 1987 Constitution in just two months.

“Only a credible opposition will raise critical questions and block self-serving moves against plans to hurry the approval of the revision of the 1987 Constitution in two months, just so it won’t get in the way of the filing of the certificates of candidacy in October this year,” Pangilinan said in a statement on Monday.

The Liberal Party president earlier claimed that Filipinos don’t see the benefit of this move in their everyday struggle against higher prices of goods, lower value of their earnings, traffic, and the continuing violence in the streets.

“Let’s keep in mind that for all the time, money and resources the government already spent on Cha-cha and federalism, our people are not in favor of the initiative, or have little knowledge of it,” Pangilinan said.

“The respective committees in both the Senate and the House should continue the public hearings on Charter change and federalism with deliberation. The more voices are heard, the more assurance that the final output on the issue is from the people, not politicians who want to remain in power forever,” he added.   /vvp