Zubiri on Cha-cha hearings: Senate a safe place for ideas

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Saturday that the Senate opened hearings on constitutional amendments because it was “a safe place for ideas.”

According to Zubiri, the Senate will go after corrupt, not contrarian opinions.

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“The Senate has always been a safe place for ideas. It is an open marketplace for views. We clamp down on the corrupt, but never on those with contrarian opinions. Kaya naman binuksan namin ang hearings sa Charter change,” Zubiri said.

(The Senate has always been a safe place for ideas. It is an open marketplace for views. We clamp down on the corrupt, but never on those with contrarian opinions. This is why we opened hearings on Charter change.)

Zubiri made the statement at the 2024 Alumni Homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City.

The senator added that the Senate also takes the House of Representatives into account with its discussions on constitutional amendments.

“So this business of studying the Constitution is a continuing conversation with the people. We will canvass the opinion of the experts and the wisdom of the crowd. We will do it with due respect to the other house,” he said.

“After all, the intent of bicameralism is to fuse the strength, meld the wisdom of two great bodies, and not to keep these permanently separated. It is about combining the best of both worlds into one common ground, into laws that unite our nation around a great national purpose,” he added.

In recent days, conflict between the House and the Senate has ensued due to proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution, particularly the people’s initiative.

READ: Marcos urged to settle House, Senate standoff on Charter change

Zubiri expressed hope that members of the PMA will be with them to protect the Constitution.

“I am hopeful that our men and women of the PMA are with us in our stand to protect the Constitution. We may wield different tools and weapons, but we all play a vital role in defending our nation and our people,” Zubiri added.

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