Zubiri on Gadon’s proposal: No one will support political amendments

Juan Miguel Zubiri
—Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri floated the possibility that no Filipino would support Charter change (Cha-cha) should political amendments be introduced at this time.

Zubiri was reacting to Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon’s proposal for Congress to pursue political amendments in its Cha-cha bid.

READ: Gadon proposes political amendments to 1987 Constitution

“Ayaw na nga ng tao. Nine out of 10 ng ating mga kababayan — thats 88 percent at only 8 percent ang gusto nga ng Cha-cha. Economic [amendments] nga lang yan eh ano kaya kung may political pa? Baka zero na ang susuporta dyan, so napakatindi,” said Zubiri in an ambush interview.

(People no longer want it. Nine out of 10 of our countrymen — that’s 88 percent and only 8 percent want Cha-cha. That’s only economic amendments. How much more if political? Maybe zero Filipinos would support that, so that’s very intense.)

Zubiri emphasized that the Senate’s Cha-cha bid does not include political provisions.

He added that the Philippine government needs to be “practical,” noting Pulse Asia’s recent poll, which revealed that most Filipinos still do not believe that now is the right time to amend the 1987 Constitution.

READ: Most Filipinos don’t think now is right time for Cha-cha – survey

“We also have to be practical with ratings like that. Maipapasa ba natin yan sa plebisito? Di ba were spending a lot of money and time on a very controversial measure and then mamaya matatalo lang,” he said.

(We also have to be practical with ratings like that. Can we pass that in a plebiscite? We’re spending a lot of money and time on a very controversial measure, and then later on, it would only lose.)

“So I would suggest let’s study carefully wag natin madaliin. Hindi to pwedeng madaliin lamang kasi kailangan malaman din ng bayan ano ba ang magagandang pwedeng amyenda sa ating konstitusyon hindi lamang ‘hala bira’ ipasa natin to kasi baka nga pagdating sa plebisito hindi pa handa ang tao, talo ang charter change at amendments. So we will study this further and continue the discussions,” he added.

(So I would suggest we study carefully, not rush. It cannot be rushed because the people also need to know what suitable amendments can be made to our Constitution, not just ‘hala bira’ let’s pass it because maybe when it comes to the plebiscite, the people are not ready, and the charter change and amendments will lose. So we will study this further to continue the discussions.)

Economic Cha-cha

Despite the low Pulse Asia survey scores, Zubiri said the Senate’s subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Code would continue its economic Cha-cha discussions in May.

“Meron po kaming three pang hearing — one in Luzon, one in Visayas, and one in Mindanao this May. Then mag dedesisyon na po ang subcommittee chairman [na si] Sen. Sonny Angara na tapusin ang committee report, so hintayin lang po natin na matapos yun,” the Senate chief explained.

(We still have three committee hearings slated in May—one in Luzon, one in Visayas, and one in Mindanao. Subcommittee chair Sen. Angara will decide to finish the committee report, so let’s wait for it to be done.)

He, however, noted that the Pulse Asia poll would play a big factor in the upcoming Cha-cha hearings and the subcommittee’s composition of a committee report.

“Kailangan pakinggan din po natin yan. Mabigat din po yan sa mga senador kasi alam niyo naman ang senador, nakikinig po sa buong bansa hindi lang sa isang lugar kundi sa buong bansa so malaking bagay po yan going forward to our discussions in Luzon, Visayas, and mindanao,” said Zubiri.

(We need to listen to this. That’s heavy for senators because you all know that senators listen to the entire country and not just one area, so it’s a huge thing in the future with our discussions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.)

“We were elected by the Filipino people, we must listen to the pulse of the FIlipino people,” he added.

The Senate, through Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, is currently leading talks on economic Cha-cha.

This was made according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s request for the upper chamber to review the proposals to amend specific provisions of the Constitution.

READ: House approves RBH 7 on third reading

Marcos saw the need to ease the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions to allow more foreign direct investment in the country.

A similar measure — Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 — was also tackled and passed in the House of Representatives in March.