BICAMERAL COOPERATION Senate President Francis Escudero (left) and Speaker Martin Romualdez watch President Marcos sign a new law on Friday. —Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is not keen on speeding up the proposed changes in the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution when sessions resumed in the 19th Congress because Charter change (Cha-cha) is not among the priority measures being pushed by the Marcos administration, Senate President Francis Escudero said on Sunday.
Escudero clarified he would still allow hearings on the proposed economic Cha-cha though these will be done through the “ordinary” course under the auspices of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments chaired by Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
“My intention is to toss the matter back to the committee based on the ordinary, regular procedures and according to the rules of the Senate, but it will not be a priority in this [third regular session of the 19th Congress] by creating a special committee for such purpose,” he said.
READ: Lawmakers find new opportunity for Cha-cha push
In a radio interview, Escudero pointed out that the sub-committee tasked with handling the proposed economic Cha-cha is now without a chairperson after former Sen. Sonny Angara officially resigned on July 18 to serve as education secretary in the Marcos cabinet.
Angara used to chair the sub-committee created under former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, which unburdened Padilla’s committee of the task of hearing the proposed economic Cha-cha.
Escudero said the Senate would most likely dissolve Angara’s subcommittee, and he was leaving it to Padilla on how to go about the deliberations on the proposed measure.
‘Noise and chaos’
The Senate President said he is wary of the “noise” that may be created by any discussion to amend the Constitution that could divert the public’s attention to other, more pressing matters.
“The 19th Congress has barely 70 session days left, so why do we still have to give ourselves a headache when we have other important measures to work on? Besides, the [proposed economic Cha-cha] was never in any of our discussions in the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council),” he said.
“Many other more important matters are taken for granted because of the noise and chaos created by this very divisive issue,” Escudero added.
He said neither Malacañang nor Speaker Martin Romualdez suggested that the Senate tackle the economic Cha-cha proposal.
Escudero laid down 10 priority measures approved by the Ledac that the Senate would work on when sessions resume on Monday.