The looming Charter change (Cha-cha) and no election (no-el) scenario being floated by some leaders of Congress to pave the way for a shift to a federal form of government is a “trap” that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV “won’t fall for.”
On Wednesday, Trillanes, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration, vowed to strongly oppose any move to amend the Constitution.
“Kung under an administration na katiwa-tiwala na hindi mag-aabuso ng kapangyarihan, pwede eh diba. Kaso itong si Duterte wala nga sa kapangyarihan yung pumatay ng tao gingawa nya, pagkakatiwalaan mo pa nitong Constituion? Bitag yan. I won’t fall for that,” Trillanes told reporters in an interview.
“Hindi ako sang-ayon d’yan sa any move na baguhin ang Constitution dahil ako naniniwala ang problema ng bansa ay hindi ‘yung sistema kundi mga taong nagpapatakbo ng sistema. ‘Yan ang aking desisyon,” he also said.
When pressed about the no-el scenario earlier brought up by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that could possibly result to a hold-over status of current elected officials, the senator dismissed it as mere effort to “entice” legislators.
“Pang-engganyo sa mga legislators yan para kumagat dun sa kanilang Con-ass (Constitutional Assembly),” Trillanes noted.
Trillanes believed these efforts were just designed to extend Duterte’s term.
“Pero alam nyo, isa lang naman ang pakay nila rito eh, ang manatili sa pwesto beyond their term, and particularly itong si Mr. Duterte. Kasi nakita n’yo nga sa Davao hindi s’ya bumitaw as mayor eh, as Presidente hindi rin ‘yan bibitaw. Kasi alam n’ya ‘pag nawala na s’ya sa pwesto, ay s’ya ay makukulong,” he added.
Last week, stalwarts of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) announced that they would urge Congress to convene a Con-Ass to push for Cha-cha. /kga