2 senators reject proposed referendum on Charter change

Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Citing time and budgetary constraints, two senators, including Senate President Franklin Drilon, rejected the proposed holding of public consultations before the May 2016 elections to decide whether or not to amend the Constitution through a constitutional convention (Con-Con).

In a resolution filed last Tuesday, Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Teofisto Guingona III proposed that members of Congress should leave it to the electorate to decide whether or not they are in favor of Con-Con, and if they decide in favor of it, the election of Con-Con delegates should be held simultaneously with next year’s elections.

READ: 2 senators revive Cha-cha issue, file con-con resolution

But Drilon said holding a referendum before the 2016 polls would require a lot of time and money.

“Alam mo, medyo gahol na sa panahon ito at wala ng budget (You know, we don’t have enough time and budget to discuss this),” Drilon said in a radio interview on Friday.

“’Pag nagkaroon ng referendum–ayan po ay sang-ayon sa ating Saligang Batas na magkaroon ng referendum at konsultahin ang taumbayan – unang-una ay kailangan natin ng malaking pera o malaking budget, for a nationwide consultation or referendum. Pangalawa, wala na tayong panahon,” he said.

(While the constitution has provisions for a referendum and consultation with the people, it will require big budget. It will also require enough time and we don’t have it.)

READ: ‘There’s still time for Charter change’

Drilon said there is no need to hold public consultations to debate on Con-Con since members of Congress as elected representatives of the people can decide on it anyway.

“Kami po ay kinatawan ng taumbayan, at ayon sa Saligang Batas, two-thirds ng buong Kongreso at ng Senado ay puwede nang magpasya at magpatawag ng isang Constitutional Convention kung saan ang isang delegado ay pwedeng i-elect sa May 2016,”  said the Senate leader.

(We are the representatives of the people and according to the Constituion, two-thirds of the Congress and the Senate can decide a Constitutional Convention where a delegate can be elected in May 2016.)

“Pero kung gagawin pang referendum ay gahol na tayo sa panahon, wala po tayong budget (But if we will still hold a referendum, there is not enough time and budget),” he further said.

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, an opposition member, said he was not in favor of the resolution, saying it would entail “additional budget and burden for the country.”

“Let us jus elect a good president in 2016, then the reforms needed can be achieved,” Sotto said in a text message to reporters.

While he was not against the resolution, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said there might not be enough time to debate on the Con-Con proposal.

“When do they propose to hold the plebiscite and where/how will they fund the plebiscite? I’m not really against it. I just didn’t expect it this late in the day. I just have questions and would study it further,” Escudero said in another text message.

If the plebiscite was not possible before the May 2016 elections, then Pimentel said it could be done simultaneously with next year’s polls. IDL