Cha-cha plebiscite alongside 2025 elections? Bad idea, says Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines — The proposal to hold a Charter change (Cha-cha) plebiscite alongside the 2025 midterm elections is a bad idea, said Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday.

In a press conference, Hontiveros maintained her stance against any form of amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

“I think ang pagpilit nila ng plebisito sa kanilang pekeng people’s initiative o plebisito para sa sinasabing amyenda sa economic provisions lamang ng Konstitusyon — I think it’s a bad idea,” Hontiveros told reporters.

(I think this forced plebiscite on their fake people’s initiative or plebiscite for the so-called amendment to the economic provisions of the Constitution — I think it’s a bad idea.)

Hontiveros earlier vowed to work hard to get at least seven votes in the Senate to stop the fresh Cha-cha bid. She likewise warned that amending the Constitution “is treacherous, impractical, divisive, and unwise.”

READ: Hontiveros still on race to get 7 votes vs Cha-cha

The opposition senator did not categorically state why she thinks holding a plebiscite alongside the 2025 polls is a bad idea, but she stressed her disapproval of amendments to the Constitution’s economic and political provisions.

“Hindi pa nga sigurado — [Constituent Assembly] ba ang ginagawa ng Senado o ng House. Sa ngayon tutol talaga ako dyan,” she added.

(It’s not even sure whether a Constituent Assembly is being done by the Senate or the House. Right now, I’m really against that.)

Hontiveros’ remark came after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed that he wants the Cha-cha plebiscite to coincide with the 2025 elections, as doing it separately would cost a fortune.

“We are studying it because if we separate the plebiscite and the elections, that is two elections. It is so expensive. So perhaps, we could do them together,” said Marcos in English and Filipino earlier.

The Senate is currently leading talks on economic Cha-cha pursuant to Marcos’ directive for the chamber to review certain provisions of the Constitution covering education, advertising, and public services.

Marcos previously emphasized the need to ease out restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution in order to attract more foreign direct investments.

“We just want to get those amendments incorporated into the Constitution to improve the chances of investment and upskilling of our people,” said Marcos earlier.