Zubiri paints dim picture of Senate’s Cha-cha drive

Former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri   (Mark Pimentel/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — “Wala na, good bye Cha-cha!”

Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had this to say when he was asked on Monday to comment on the fate of the Senate’s Charter change (Cha-cha) bid now that there had been a change of leadership.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Zubiri said Cha-cha talks in the Senate initially scheduled within the week will no longer push through.

“Wala na, good bye Cha-cha. Nag resign na si Sonny Angara,” Zubiri told reporters.

(Good bye, Cha-cha. Sonny Angara has resigned.)

Angara, former chairperson of the Senate’s subcommittee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, used to lead the chamber’s hearings on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 — the measure containing proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Angara stepped down from his post as head of the said subcommittee after Zubiri likewise resigned as Senate President.

“It’s all cancelled. Alam niyo naman si Senator [Francis] Escudero ay anti Cha-cha. Openly siya anti Cha-cha so I hope the people that supported him know that,” he added.

(It’s all cancelled. You all know that Senator Escudero is anti Cha-cha. He is openly against Cha-cha so I hope the people that supported him know that.)

In a separate press conference on Monday, newly-elected Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said there is still a need to discuss whether or not Cha-cha hearings will push.

Asked if “there will still be Cha-cha,” Escudero rhetorically asked: “Meron ba ngayon?” (Do we have one now?)

“Again, we will discuss it on the part of the majority and I think I was one of the vocal ones during that time so I don’t see any reason why there should be concerns about that,” said Escudero.

He said it’s not for him to say whether or not Cha-cha is already dead in the Senate, but he repeatedly emphasized that he has his own position about the matter.