Militant solons suggest scrapping Cha-cha initiative, federal shift

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate (CDN PHOTO/CHOY ROMANO)

The government should scrap any attempts to change the country’s form of government into a federal one, some militant lawmakers said on Wednesday, with one saying that the recent survey showing majority of Filipinos oppose Charter change (Cha-cha), was a “slap in the face” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It would be well for the Duterte administration and its allies to listen to the sentiments of our people and drop this anti-people Cha-cha project,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

“Tumataginting na sampal sa mukha ni Pangulong Duterte ito na sa kabila ng so-called popularity niya, nire-reject ng taumbayan ‘yung sinasabing number one na platform ng kanyang presidency, ang shift to federalism at Charter change,” ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

(This is, somewhat, a slap to the face of the President Rodrigo Duterte because despite his so-called popularity, the people are rejecting his presidency’s number one platform, the shift to federalism and Charter change.)

The lawmakers’ remarks came after the recent Pulse Asia survey results showed that 64 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of amending the Constitution, and 66 percent oppose a change to a federal form of government.

READ: 64% of Filipinos do not want Charter change — Pulse Asia

Zarate also warned that if the government would not heed the people’s “consistent strong sentiment” against Cha-cha and federalism, the administration “would be met also by massive opposition and protests by the people.”

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the survey is a “wake up call” to withdraw any efforts by Congress to push for Cha-cha and federalism.

“This is a wake-up call for those in the leadership to withdraw any efforts, any attempts, whatever mode especially through a Constituent assembly, mas ito yung pinaka-mabaho na sa tingin namin hindi katanggap-tanggap sa mamamayang Pilipino [this is the stinkiest we could ever see and it is also not acceptable for the Filipino people],” Casilao pointed out.

Casilao and Tinio also said that the consultative commission (Con-com) tasked by the President to review the 1987 Constitution should already stop its work.

“Ano man resulta ang study commission headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, ‘yung concurrent House resolution on Cha-cha at ‘yung efforts sa Senate, whatever ang nakalatag na plano nila sa pagbabalik ng sesyon, ay dapat ikonsidera na nila itong naipakitang public sentiment,” Casilao said.

(Whatever the result of the study of the commission headed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the concurrent House resolution on Cha-cha and efforts by the Senate, whatever plans laid down when the session resumes, they should consider the sentiments of the public.)

“Mabuti pang itigil na ito. ‘Yung mga initiatives dito sa House, even Con-com. Nag-aaksaya lang ng panahon ‘yan at ng resources ng gobyerno, napakalinaw ng sentimyento ng taumbayan,” Tinio said.

(It is better to stop this. The initiatives here in the House, even the Con-com. They are just wasting time and government resources, it is clear the people’s sentiments.)

The Cha-cha being proposed in the Congress could lead into a shift to a federal form of government, which was one of President Duterte’s campaign promises, and an advocacy of his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). /jpv