Duterte backs economic Cha-cha, says House amendments panel chair

Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. (Photo from the Facebook account of Ako Bicol)

MANILA, Philippines — House committee on constitutional amendments chairperson Alfredo Garbin Jr. believes the push for economic Charter change (Cha-cha) still has the support of President Rodrigo Duterte.

During the Ugnayan sa Batasan press briefing, Garbin said the economic managers of the country, which he said serves as the President’s “alter ego,” are all in support of lifting the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“When you speak of whether the President has support in this lifting of economic provisions of the Constitution, ang sabi ko, meron[g suporta],” Garbin said.

(When you speak of whether the President has support in this lifting of economic provisions of the Constitution, I say, there is support.)

“Dahil base sa mga pahayag ng kanyang economic managers—the Department of Finance [DOF], the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI], and National Economic and Development Authority [Neda]—which are all alter ego of the President, they are in support of lifting the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution,” the lawmaker added.

(Because based on the pronouncements of his economic managers—the DOF, DTI, and Neda—which are all alter ego of the President, they are in support of lifting the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.)

Garbin added that since the agencies serve as Duterte’s “alter ego,” any official actions that the agencies make, including their pronouncements, “would necessarily reflect the pronouncement of the President.”

The lawmaker, likewise, underscored that the amendments being pushed are only limited to its economic provisions, and not the political provisions.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier said he sees the proposed economic amendments to the Constitution “finished” in the lower chamber before May ends.

Velasco also said he does not believe that Cha-cha is “dead in the water” contrary to what critics are claiming.

Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, which proposes the economic provisions to the charter, was filed by Velasco and is currently in the period of interpellation and debates in the House plenary.

JPV