Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva. Senate Social Media Unit / Joseph Vidal
MANILA, Philippines — A single appeal was all Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva could utter amid the controversial push for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution: “Let’s not deceive the people that we need the Charter change (Cha-cha) to solve society’s problems.”
Villanueva made the appeal on Thursday, saying “deception and threats” in line with personal political interests tucked in this Cha-cha push should stop.
“Tigilan na po ang paglapastangan at pagmamanipula sa ating mga kababayan. Marunong silang mag-isip. Hindi nabibili ang kanilang opinyon. Hindi for sale ang Pilipino,” said Villanueva in a statement.
(Stop defaming and manipulating our countrymen. They know how to think. Their opinion cannot be bought. Filipinos are not for sale.)
Villanueva issued his statement amid allegations that a people’s initiative method to amend the 1987 Constitution is being conducted.
READ: Senators: Those pushing for Cha-cha have a lot of convincing to do
“Huwag po nating linlangin ang taong bayan na kailangan natin ang Cha-cha para solusyunan ang problema ng lipunan. Hindi po ito ang sagot sa kumakalam na sikmura, kawalan ng trabaho, sa parating na El Niño at sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin,” Villanueva emphasized.
(Let’s not deceive the people that we need the Cha-cha to solve society’s problems. This is not the answer to hunger, unemployment, the looming El Niño, and the constant increase in the price of basic commodities.)
READ: EXPLAINER: The process of Cha-cha and why we should monitor it
He then urged those pushing for Cha-cha to be true to themselves, saying that everyone knows the “real reason” why some are insisting on “dissolving the Senate’s [stance]” on the issue.
“[They want] to control power under a unilateral or single Congress. Above all, they want to extend their terms,” said the majority leader.