House leaders in ‘make or break’ meeting for Charter change with Aquino Monday

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (left) , Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.(right)

MANILA, Philippines—The leaders of both chambers of the 15th Congress will meet with President Benigno Aquino III on Monday to discuss the possible amendments to the Constitution.

House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II on Thursday said that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile would be meeting the President to explain why they are pushing for Charter change.

The two leaders want to convince Aquino that amendments to the Constitution, particularly its economic provisions, will give the nation’s economy a much-needed boost, Gonzales said.

Gonzales said that Belmonte urged him to join them in the meeting with the President in Malacañang.

He described the meeting as their last-ditch effort to push for amendments to the economic provisions, saying that it would either make or break the possibility of Charter change.