Senate to insist role in Cha-cha for benefit of people—Bam Aquino

Senator Bam Aquino INQUIRER.net / FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY—The Senate will insist on being part of any move to amend the Charter despite the insistence of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that they could do it alone without the upper chamber, according to an opposition senator.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said in an interview here on Tuesday that the Senate would ensure the interests of the ordinary Filipinos would be protected.

Aquino, who belongs to the opposition Liberal Party, said that contrary to the claim of Alvarez, the Senate would be involved in Charter change, echoing opinions of various legal experts and senators on this issue.

“Imposible na magka-Charter change na di kasama ang Senado (It is impossible that Charter change be made without the Senate),” he said.

READ: Drilon: House can’t dance Cha-cha without Senate

“On the side of the Senate, we already took a stand that we will follow the proper process at di kami magpapa-bully (we would not be bullied); di kami magpapa-pressure at gagawin namin yung nasa tamang proseso at di kami magpapa-madali (we would not be pressured and we would follow the right process and would not hurry it up),” said the senator during a forum on small entrepreneurs at the Tacloban Convention Center.

Aquino said they would conduct public hearings and invite speakers from different sectors and different points of view on Charter change.

He said the Senate plans to conduct public hearings across the country to get the pulse of the people.

Aquino pointed out that what was being discussed by Alvarez and his supporters on Charter change appears not to be of direct interest among ordinary Filipino people.

“Sisiguruhin (ng Senado) na kasama ang taong-bayan sa mga diskusyunan at kailangan na siguraduhin na pabor sa mga tao ang mga pagbabagong ito (The Senate would make sure that the people would be included in the discussion and we had to make sure that the changes would be favorable to the people),” Aquino said.

The senator said what was being discussed term extensions and transition of government, which were favorable to politicians.

“Yung tanong sa regular na trabaho, edukasyon, mga government services, di ho nagiging kasama sa usapin (Questions on employment, education, government services, these were not included in the discussion),” he added.

“So, on talks of Charter Change, I think, yung Senado, pwede kaming manindigan para sa tao at siguruhin na hindi lang ito babasta-bastahin at magiging pabor lang sa pulitiko (we can stand for the people and make sure that the amendments would only be favorable to politicians),” he said. /jpv