House reps relieved ex-President Duterte is now OK with economic Cha-cha

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the 54th Cabinet meeting in Malacaٌñang on May 30, 2022. (File photo from KING RODRIGUEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers have clarified once again that proposals to amend the Constitution would solely address its economic aspects.

The clarification comes after former President Rodrigo Duterte said he was okay with Charter change (Cha-cha) provided it stayed on track.

Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said maybe the former chief executive had come to understand that the 19th Congress was pushing for an economic Cha-cha only.

“That’s exactly what we’ve been saying from the beginning — that we are pushing for Charter change just to push for these economic amendments,” Zamora told reporters.

“So maybe our well-respected former President Rodrigo Duterte has seen more clearly that this is what really what many administrations are pushing for and also the 19th Congress,” she added, speaking partly in Filipino.

Zamora made the statements in a press conference where he was asked about Duterte’s remarks in a Cebu City prayer rally on Sunday.

For his part, Deputy Speaker David Suarez said that even with the House version of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, lawmakers specified the planned changes.

“What Congresswoman [Zamora] said is correct. Ever since we passed RBH No. 6 last year, it was just purely on economic provisions,” Suarez recalled.

“We’ve been consistent with the position, the stand, from day one and up until now.”

The resolution was adopted in March 2023.

During the prayer rally, Duterte said he had no problem with amending the Constitution as long as it would not be about extending the incumbent elective officials’ terms.