Economic Cha-cha may be blocked in the Senate – Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — After a quick assessment through political mapping and one-on-one conversations with fellow senators, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said she’s “very hopeful” that the Senate minority would be able to gather enough votes to block the proposed economic Charter change (Cha-cha). 

Hontiveros and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III only need seven votes to block the Cha-cha bid in the upper chamber.

“Well, yung Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 dito sa Senado, eh, nung simula ang confident nila. Nag-anunsyong may labing walo na silang boto. Pero, I think, navi-vindicate na hindi yan accurate. And hanggang ngayong araw, I believe, meron pa rin kaming fighting chance makabuo ng at least seven na kakailanganin para i-down yung RBH 6,” said Hontiveros in an ambush interview.

(Well, at first they were very confident about RBH 6. They announced that they already have 18 votes, but I think that’s not accurate and until now I believe that we have a fighting chance to gather at least seven votes needed to turn down RBH 6.)

Asked how they are gauging their colleagues’ stance on the matter, Hontiveros answered:  “Political mapping and based [on] one-on-one conversations.”

In an interview over the weekend, Pimentel said they could probably muster 8 votes against Cha-cha.

Those who have categorically stated that they are against Cha-cha are  Hontiveros, Pimentel, and Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Pimentel said Sen. Mark Villar may duplicate his mother’s stand against economic Cha-cha.

At present, the Senate is leading talks on the matter pursuant to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ‘s directive to review restrictive provisions of the constitution covering education, advertising, and public services.

Marcos said he saw the need to ease these provisions in order to allow more foreign direct investment in the country.