JV Ejercito says economic Cha-cha will ‘push through’

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Standing by its vow, the Senate will proceed with amending particular economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito confirmed the matter to reporters in a press briefing on Monday, saying that the initiative will still be made possible through Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6.

“We will push through with what was agreed upon. Again, naka-schedule na ‘yata subcommittee — ay committee as a whole na yata na [we] would hear already itong Constitutional amendments on economic provisions — RBH6. I think it’s scheduled supposedly this Wednesday,” Ejercito told reporters.

(We will push through with what was agreed upon. Again, I think it’s already scheduled in the subcommittee — or committee as a whole — that we would hear the Constitutional amendments on the economic provisions of RBH6. I think it’s planned for this Wednesday.)

“Everything is fluid. Supposedly, we will continue to do what was agreed upon. At least dito ginagawa natin,” he emphasized.

(Everything is fluid. Supposedly, we will continue to do what was agreed upon. At least we will do it here.)

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier disclosed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself instructed the Senate to pass the final version of RBH No. 6, and the House of Representatives will only adopt the measure’s Senate version.

According to Ejercito, the Senate will convene in another caucus during Monday’s plenary session, where Senators may discuss who will spearhead the public hearing on the issue.

“Ang huling usapan, dapat subcommittee noong una. Kaso parang committee of the whole kasi the whole Senate has supported already,” said Ejercito.

(Based on our discussion, a subcommittee should have made it. But I think it will be made into committee of the whole because the whole Senate has already supported it.)

The sudden push for RBH No. 6 came after claims that the upper chamber is setting aside Cha-cha talks due to the ongoing push for people’s initiative.

Asked what made the senators change their mind, Ejercito said they promised President Marcos they “will do what was agreed upon.”

“Itutuloy natin. Kung hindi nila ituloy sa House ang pag adopt, e sila po ang hindi tumupad,” Ejercito pointed out.

(We will continue. If they do not adopt it in the House, they did not comply.)