Pangilinan: Rushing, forcing Cha-cha on citizens not the way to go

Sen Francis Pangilinan shows a copy of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines during the Senate Committee hearing on Constitutional amendments and revision of Codes held at Senate bldg, Pasay City, Jan 17,2018. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Rushing Charter change (Cha-cha) and forcing it upon the citizens is not the way to go, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Wednesday as the government’s flagship advocacy faces majority opposition according to a recent survey.

Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, issued the statement after 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

“This lack of support for Cha-cha and federalism even in Mindanao, which is supposed to benefit from this push and is reflected in the survey results, simply means that rushing Charter change and forcing it upon the citizens is not the way to go,” he said in a statement.

“Malinaw na ang kailangan at dapat tutukan ay ang pagpalalim ng kaalaman ng ating mga mamamayan tungkol sa Saligang Batas upang magkaroon sila ng sapat na kaalaman upang makapagpasya kung dapat nga ba itong baguhin o hindi,” he added.

(It’s clear that what is needed and what needs to be focused on is deepening the understanding of the public about the Constitution in order for them to have ample knowledge to decide whether or not it needs to be revised.)

The senator said his committee conducted several public consultations on Cha-cha and the public repeatedly registered their concern that they lack awareness about the country’s present Constitution.

“Dahil dito, hindi sila makabuo ng maayos na pasya tungkol sa Cha-cha dahil hindi malinaw sa kanila kung ano ito. Isa rin ito sa mga pangunahing dahilan kung bakit hindi sang-ayon sa Cha-cha ang marami sa mga dumalo sa ating mga hearing,” he added.

(Because of this, they can’t form a proper decision about Cha-cha because it’s not clear to them what it is. It’s also one of the reasons why those who attended the hearing don’t agree with Cha-cha.)

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon meanwhile urged Congress “to heed the will of the people by prioritizing legislation that would address various pressing issues such as poverty and unemployment instead of talking about a term extension” through the Cha-cha.

“The survey must serve as a wake-up call for the administration and the proponents of federalism in Congress that what the people want is a real solution to the problems that confront them daily,” Drilon said in a statement.

“This is what the Congress should prioritize, not term extension to justify a shift to a federal system,” he added.

Instead of railroading the process of amending the 1987 Constitution, Drilon said Congress should prioritize the passage of measures to address issues on “endo” or end of contract or labor-only contracting, and expand health and social protection coverage, among others. /je

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