Cha-cha talks on hold in Senate due to people’s initiative

Senate of the Philippines. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will not dance to Charter change (Cha-cha) unless a people’s initiative (PI) is set aside.

“RBH (Resolution of Both Houses) 6 of the Senate is suspended,” Senate Minority Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.

He was referring to the resolution filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara, proposing changes to specific economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

The resolution has already been referred to the Senate committee on constitutional amendments headed by Senator Robin Padilla.

However, because of the continuing PI for Cha-cha, discussions on the resolution will now be put on hold, Pimentel said. “Yes, because the PI is apparently continuing and reports are ‘congressmen are behind it’ hence our question is: Why are congressmen in effect pursuing two modes?’” he said.

“There is bad faith somewhere,” the minority leader added.

Angara also believes their Cha-cha resolution will no longer move in the upper chamber because of the PI.

“Palagay ko hindi matutuloy yung usapan dyan sa economic provisions habang hindi sinasantabi itong people’s initiative dahil yun nga e lumalabas na hindi sya totoong people’s initiative at talagang ang mga nasa likod ito ay mga pulitiko talaga,” he said in an interview over DZBB.

(I believe the discussion on economic provisions will not push through until this People’s Initiative is set aside because it appears that it is not a genuine People’s Initiative, and those behind it are really politicians.)

“Hindi gagalaw itong resolution No 6,” he stressed. “E syempre kelangang i- prioritize yung existence namin di ba? Parang defense mechanism yan di ba? Parang e kung matatanggal ka na… syempre uunahin mo yun di ba?”

(Resolution No. 6 will not move forward. Of course, we need to prioritize our existence, right? It’s like a defense mechanism. If you’re about to be removed… of course, you’ll prioritize that, right?)

Signed by 24 senators, the upper chamber released a manifesto against the PI on Tuesday, which they said is proposing only one change—for the Senate and the House of Representatives to vote jointly on any amendments to the Constitution.