Senate must take a stand on Cha-cha, says Imee Marcos

Sen. Imee R. Marcos (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate, as an institution, must establish its position on the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha) or amendment of the 1987 Constitution, according to Senator Imee Marcos.

“Kinakailangan. Kasi parang ang nangyayari ay iba-bypass na lang ang Senado. Pwede bang ganon na papalitan na lang ang Konstitusyon [at] sila-sila lang ang nag uusap? Ang labo naman,” Marcos said in an interview over Radyo 630 on Thursday after she was asked if the chamber will take a definite stand on the issue anytime soon.

(We need to. Because it seems that what is happening is that the Senate will be bypassed. Is it possible to just change the Constitution [and] they are the only ones talking? That’s vague.)

According to Marcos, the Senate held an executive session on Wednesday to discuss the supposed ongoing push for the people’s initiative method to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“Hindi ako naka attend [sa] executive session, pero alam ko may kinalaman sa people’s initiative dahil abalang abala nga ang mga Senador sa mga pangyayari dahil nagkagulatan,” she said.

(I wasn’t able to attend the executive session, but I know it has something to do with the people’s initiative because the senators were busy with what’s been happening, and they were surprised.)

Albay 2nd District Rep. Edcel Lagman earlier claimed that a P14-billion item in the 2024 General Appropriations Act was inserted during the bicameral conference committee hearing to fund Cha-cha.

READ: Imee Marcos: I won’t defend ‘Aquino Constitution’, but no need to amend it now

But Marcos, who chairs the Senate panel on electoral reforms and people’s participation, said the P14 billion budget was granted to the Commission on Elections to establish the commission’s offices and upgrade the salary of its employees.

“’Yun ang hiningi. Hindi nila hiningi para magkaroon ng people’s initiative,” noted the sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

(That’s what they asked for. They did not ask for it to push for people’s initiative.)

She likewise questioned the supposed calls to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, asking what specific portion of the country’s main charter needs to be changed.

READ: EXPLAINER: The process of Cha-cha and why we should monitor it

“Higit sa lahat, napatunayan na natin noong panahon ni [former] Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na maaari naman palitan itong mga probisyon sa Konstitusyon nang hindi mag-aaksaya ng P14 billion at hindi mag-aaksaya ng panahon at tutok dahil pwede naman gawin in accordance with law,” she said.

(Above all, we have proven during the time of [former] President Rodrigo Duterte that it is possible to change these provisions in the Constitution without wasting P14 billion and without wasting time and focus because it can be done under the law.)