Andanar: Cha-cha not yet dead, just on ‘power nap’

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Charter Change is not yet dead, Communication Secretary Martin Andanar said on Thursday, following remarks from lawmakers that the shift to a federal government was not a priority of Congress.

Andanar issued the statement more than a month after President Rodrigo Duterte received the proposed federal Constitution drafted by his 22-member Charter change committee.

“Cha-cha is just on a power nap,” Andanar said in a radio dzRH interview.

“Ibig sabihin nagpa-power nap, eh nag-iipon lang ng lakas para pag gising niya ay tuluy-tuloy na ang ating kampanya dito sa pederalismo or Charter Change,” he added.

Former president and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has said that there is no longer enough time to pass Charter change in her remaining term.

Arroyo, who was elected as House Speaker on July 23, would end his term in June 2019.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that the proposed shift to a federal government was still not a priority of the Senate.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Charter change would be cremated once it reaches the upper chamber.

READ: Lacson says ‘cremation’ awaits Cha-cha at Senate

“We respect of course the opinion or our lawmakers kung iyon po ang sinasabi nila. Ang mahalaga po dito, Congressman, ay maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin ang kahalagahan ng pederalismo sa kani-kanilang mga lugar, mga rehiyon,” Andanar said.

Andanar had earlier said that the inter-agency group on federalism to discuss ways to promote federalism.

The proposed shift to federalism became controversial after the lewd video of Communications Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar sparked criticisms from lawmakers and the public. /jpv