Charter change is dead, says Gonzales

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—For a leader in the Lower House, proposals to amend the Constitution may as well be dead.

This, as the proposals to amend the Constitution’s economic provisions continue to languish in Congress as the next presidential elections near, House majority leader Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said on Tuesday.

Gonzales said he had supported amending the Constitution so long as it would be passed early on in the Aquino administration.

Now that the proposals were not yet passed even after the midterm elections, Gonzales said it would be “difficult” to push for the measure nearing the next national elections without being perceived for political ends.

Charter change had been unsuccessful in the previous Congress as it was seen as a ploy for politicians to extend their terms of office.

An amendment to the economic provisions would lift restrictions on foreign ownership.

“Personally, if you’re going to ask me, wala na ‘yan… Kapag lumalapit na sa midterm or after the midterm of the president, it becomes very difficult. (The proposal is dead… It becomes very difficult to pass the law during or after the midterm of the president),” Gonzales said at a press briefing.

“The problem in the attempt to amend the Constitution is that, palaging tinatakot sa mga tao na camouflage lang ‘yan para palitan ang political framework of government [for term extension] (It has always been used to scare the citizens that Charter change could be used to change the political framework of government for term extension),” he added.

House speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. earlier expressed support for Charter change, adding that he is hopeful his resolution would be passed at the committee level this year.

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