Senate not threatened by people’s initiative, says Zubiri

MANILA, Philippines — It was not the people’s initiative (PI) that prompted the Senate to push for Charter change (Cha-cha), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Wednesday.

Zubiri on Monday filed a resolution, proposing changes to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.  It was also signed by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Senator Sonny Angara.

But the move came as surprise to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, noting the  Senate’s previous stand against Cha-cha.

“…Medyo na-PI lang bigla kaming parang nasindak kami, biglang sasayaw na ngayon ng Cha-cha ang Senado,” Pimentel said  in an interview with Senate reporters.

Zubiri countered this.

“Hindi nasindak ang Senado sa PI,” the Senate leader said when reporters sought for his comment on Pimentel’s remarks.

(The Senate was not threatened by Cha-cha)

Zubiri explained that the move to resort to Cha-cha came about after consultations with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and his economic managers on the effects of the cases filed against the amended Public Service Act.

Because of the questions raised before the Supreme Court, he said, most of the investment pledges of foreign direct investments to the country have been delayed.

“There seems no certainty yet on that issue so it’s best to revisit only the Articles of the National Patrimony on the Public Services provision to make it clear and concise so as to render the Public Services Act constitutional,” he said.

“No other reason but that,” he pointed out.

Their resolution proposes changes to the following provisions of the 1987 Constitution:

• Section 11 Article 12 (National Patrimony and Economy)
• Paragraph 2 Section 4 of Article 14 (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports)
• Paragraph 2 Section 11 of Article 16 (General Provisions – Advertising)