House seen as pushing Charter change in re-distributing committee slots

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The majority bloc’s push to get the three-fourths vote needed for charter change has shifted to high gear with the distribution of additional committee slots to the members of the independent bloc, including detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo.

The former president, who has been in detention for the last two years due to a plunder case at the Sandiganbayan, was given a seat in the energy and trade and industry committees. Her son was given three committee seats: agriculture and food; youth and sports development; and  Bicol recovery and economic development.

Other independent bloc members granted committee membershios were La Union Rep. Victor F. Ortega (5 seats), Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (4 seats), Quezon Rep. Aleta Suarez (4 seats), Cavite Rep. Lani Revilla Mercado (4 seats), Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay (4 seats), Abakada Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz (4 seats), and Buhay Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. (3 seats).

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., author of  House Resolution 1 pushing for reforms in economic limits in the Constitution through the insertion of the phrase “unless provided by law,” denied that these seats were given to get the lawmakers’ support for charter change.

Belmonte, however, admitted that he has been in discussions with the independent and minority blocs to get their support for Cha-cha.”It’s for  the benefit of everybody of us that we are aware of all the issues here. By next week we go on leave and that’s about more than a month of people can talk about it and so forth. It’s still a long way, it’s not as if tomorrow, it will be over. Whether we are pro or against, we should welcome the chance to discuss our 27-year old Constitution,” said Belmonte.

Belmonte also denied rumors that businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan was the main supporter of Cha-cha as it would cure his group’s alleged breach of foreign equity limits in regulated businesses that the Salim Group of Indonesia has invested in the Philippines. “I don’t really see why he would be singled out and say that he will be the one who will benefit,” said Belmonte who also expected a lot of businessmen would oppose opening up the economy to greater foreign competition.

But Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora warned that Belmonte’s chosen strategy to change the Constitution was fraught with risks as it would leave the crucial decision of what industries to open to foreign investors solely in the hands of Congress.

Zamora said that while the phrase “unless provided by law” might seem innocuous, it would shut out the public from participating in any discussion on how much to open the industries close to foreigners.

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