Senate minority bloc united against Cha-cha – Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER.net/Cathy Miranda

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate minority bloc remains opposed to the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha) and federalism, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.

“Yes, until the last time na nag-usap kami, tutol po kami sa Charter Change ni Presidente,” Hontiveros said in a Kapihan sa Senado forum when asked if the minority bloc is opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution.

Hontiveros said she is opposed to Cha-cha under the present administration because President Rodrigo Duterte “is just using it for his other political agenda.”

She also described the proposed shift to federalism as “half-baked,” adding that there is no assurance that proposed federal states will have the “capacity for governance” and “financial autonomy.”

“Ginagamit lang ito ni Presidente sa ibang mga political agenda niya, term extension man iyan or ‘yung pag-install ng isang successor na magsisiguro na hindi siya hahabulin ng accountability sa iba’t-iba niyang mga paglabag o krimen sa karapatan ng mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.

“Meron siyang pinangangalandakan na federalism daw, pero half-baked, kung ano-anong shape o hugis na hindi naman talaga magsisiguro na may capacity for governance or financial autonomy ‘yung magiging federal states,” she added.

The senator noted that the minority bloc remains “united” in its stance that a Constitutional Convention should be the appropriate process to change the charter. /kga