Robin Padilla urges voters to pick less popular but Cha-cha supportive leaders in next polls

FILE PHOTO: Senator Robinhood Padilla. (File photo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA,  Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla hopes that in the next elections, Filipinos will pick leaders who may not be famous but would support needed changes in the 1987 Constitution.

The actor-turned-lawmaker talked about the importance of changing the Constitution during a celebration for the 29th anniversary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Mandaluyong City on Thursday.

“Sana sa 2025 magkaroon kayo ng intensyon na bumoto ng mga kandidatong hindi naman kilala pero naniniwala na kailangan nating baguhin ang porma ng gobyerno. Kailangan isa na lang ang House para matipid sa gastos, mabilis ang mga batas, at sana pumayag na ang gobyerno na pumasok ang ating mga foreign investor,” said the chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments.

(I hope that in 2025, you will intend to vote for candidates who are not well known but believe that we need to change the form of government. We need just one House to save on costs. Laws are fast, and I hope the government allows foreign investors to enter.)

READ: Padilla finds it hard to accept senators not being open to Cha-cha: ‘Nag-file kayo niyan’

“Bakit kailangan natin ng foreign investor? Para hindi na mag-abroad ang Pilipino. Para ang foreign investor dadalhin dito para magkaroon kayo ng trabaho, ‘yan ho ang kailangan natin,” the senator added.

(Why do we need foreign investors? So that Filipinos will not go abroad. So foreign investors will bring the jobs here. That’s what we need.)

Padilla likewise believes the government can serve taxpayers better if there is only one house in Congress.

This is also in line with the wishes of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to have rightsizing in government, the senator noted.

READ: Two big business groups uneasy with Cha-cha

“Ang rightsizing ibig sabihin maging mautak ang gobyerno na paliitin. Kailangan huwag tayo maging masyadong magastos, eh ngayon ho masyado tayong magastos kasi may senador, may congressman pa kayo,” Padilla said.

(Rightsizing means the government should be wise in reducing its personnel to the optimum level. We should not spend too much. After all, right now, we spend a lot because we have senators and congressmen.)

Padilla admitted that all his efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution would not fly if he did not have “allies” in Congress.

In March, his committee released a report proposing certain amendments to economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly.

However, the report was unable to reach the Senate floor as it failed to get the necessary signatures of the majority members of the panel.

READ: I’ll try again: Padilla not backing down on Cha-cha push in Senate

kga/abc