MANILA, Philippines — Heading the Senate committee on constitutional amendments is only difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Take this from Senator-elect Robin Padilla, who has yet to assume his post on June 30 but is said to be the next chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments when the 19th Congress opens in July.
READ: Padilla, Tulfo to head major Senate committees, says Zubiri
Asked how he was preparing for the chairmanship of the said committee, Padilla on Tuesday said: “Mabigat ‘yon kung hindi mo alam ‘yung gagawin mo. Pero ako naman, alam ko naman ang gagawin ko.”
(It’s difficult if you don’t know what you will do. But in my case, I know what to do.)
Padilla also pointed out that he has a team of lawyers who will help and guide him in the legislative process.
“Hindi naman ako nabibigatan,” he stressed. “Ang nabibigatan yung taumbayan kasi kailangan na nilang baguhin yung saligang batas natin.”
(I don’t find it difficult. The people are the ones suffering because we already need to change the Constitution)
The neophyte senator was interviewed by reporters after attending a legislative briefing in the Senate.
While he has openly expressed his desire to head the said committee, Padilla said he has not discussed this issue yet with anyone in the Senate as he went directly to study at the Development Academy of the Philippines in preparation for his new role as a legislator.
READ: Robin Padilla eyes lead role in reviving Charter change
Reviving his proposed federalism, he said, would be his first bill in the Senate.
“Kung gusto po natin talaga na magkaroon ng tunay na pagbabago, mga mahal kong kababayan, yakapin na po natin talaga ang Charter change,” he said.
(If we want real change, my beloved countrymen, then we have to embrace Charter change)
“Lahat po ng nagsilbing pangulo, yan po ang kanilang hiningi: Charter change. Kasi pagkatapos po nilang manilbihan, na-realize nila na ginawa na nila ang lahat pero walang ibang solusyon kundi Charter change,” Padilla went on.
(All the past presidents want Charter change because, after their term in office, they realize that they did everything but the only solution is Charter change.)