Pimentel not losing hope on senators ‘turned off’ about federalism

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Monday that he is not giving up hope on senators, who were “turned off” at how the proposed shift to federalism was being pushed by advocates.

Pimentel disclosed that efforts to convince the senators to support the proposed federalism have been derailed because of the question on how Congress should vote on any amendments or revisions to the 1987 Constitution.

However, despite the seeming “stalemate” between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the manner of voting, the Senate leader was elated that the Charter change (Cha-cha) issue has raised awareness among the people.

“Eh ang masama, marami ng senador tuloy parang na turn off sila sa procedure pa lang,” Pimentel said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Monday.

“Kasi hindi pa naman lahat ng senador ay sang-ayon sa federalismo, nililigawan pa lang sila sa konspeto. Biglang na diskarel po tayo, na-focused sa procedure. Maraming na turned off sa procedure. Pero hindi pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa,” he added.

Pimentel is the president of the ruling PDP-Laban, which has been pushing the shift from unitary to federal form of government.

The House of Representatives has already approved a resolution constituting Congress into a Constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution while the Senate is standing firm against voting jointly with its counterpart.

Senators have earlier reached a consensus in a caucus that the two chambers should vote separately on any amendments to the Charter.

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